VANGUARD AND TANT'S UNITY PLAN

With this initial article of six, I step out upon thetight-wire of controversial journalism, with only thetruth of God to give me balance. At this point in life itis not a delightful chore to challenge the pursuits,goals and methods of a seasoned veteran of religiousjournalism for over forty years. I have not jumped intothis matter hastily, nor without thought. I do so withthe prayer that good will result and God will be exaltedbecause His word is honored.

I have read from at least twenty-six editors, staffwriters and preachers who have written what theybelieve ought to be said in regard to Yater Tant's "boxin-the-vestibule" as a means to unity, and his association and endorsement of many phases of theCrossroads Church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida. Idid not say much to anyone about my intention andefforts to prepare a response to what brother Tant haswritten as far back as October, 1981. I spoke to ConnieAdams about my plans and he urged me to completethe articles as soon as possible for Searching The Scriptures. I began but was dissatisfied with each draft, largely because of additional and differing information that appeared in Vanguard and other papers each month. What I knew I had to write wasmore and more disturbing.

In April I went to Birmingham, Alabama to visit and talk with Brother Tant. We spent one day and apart of another talking about his proposal for a"vestibule box", the Crossroads Church, the problemof unity, and about his Open Letter to Guy N. Woods and Reuel Lemmons. Our discussion was respectfuland brotherly from both of us, but we spoke freely andplainly to the subject. We did not agree when weparted, but I think we understood one another a littlebetter. There is no hostility between us as I write these words.

According to my notes of our meeting, we had discussed the following: the box-in-the-vestibule, theCrossroads Church in Gainesville, Florida, his idea ofattaining unity as in his appeal in the Open Letter toGuy N. Woods and Reuel Lemmons, fellowship and when it must be broken between brethren, and how hisunity plan compared to the Murch-Witty Unity Plan.We each said what we wanted to say, as far as Iunderstand. I completely disagree with brother Tantin his analysis of the problems and the manner inwhich he thinks they can be resolved scripturally.

Upon my return from Birmingham I was resolved towrite something on these subjects, but I was deliberate to be as true to facts as possible. From many sources came reviews, reports, and further informationabout Tant's activity, which were new to me since Ihad talked to him. He also wrote much more about some of the things we discussed. As I continued torewrite articles to bring them up to date, I decided thatit would be impossible to get anything into print andkeep updating this material to try to make it as accurate as possible.

My Attitude in These Articles

There is probably no subject more thoroughlypursued by generations of preachers, elders, teachers, writers and editors than the subject of UNITY! I knowof no more noble goal, no greater achievement forwhich one could reach than to endeavor to keep "theunity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3).Jesus prayed for his disciples "that they all may beone; . . . even as we are one" (John 17:21, 22). "Behold,how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwelltogether in unity" (Psalm 133:1).

The interlock of human intellect and the stubborn will can forge some strange gods that wrest the heartsof multitudes from the solid foundation of truth. When the intermission between spiritual conflicts appears,various white flags go up and the official peace offensive begins. This cycle of history is as ongoing asthe seasons, and the often used clichés and sloganssignal the compromising schemes by which the forcesof truth and error are to "join right hands" and "learnwar no more."

I am fully award that Time, the Penman of History,will not allow one word of this paper to be erased. Ishall bear the consequences of what I have writtenwhether I like it or not. With that fact clearly in mind,I have cautiously approached this task with fear andtrembling, with the consciousness that I must face God in the judgment, not only with what I have saidhere, but also with the motive and attitude of heartwhich prompted every punch of the keys of this typewriter.

I have a strong conviction about the unity of thepeople of God. It is one thing, however, to DESIREthe oneness of God's people, and quite another toFOLLOW SCRIPTURAL PROCEDURE to attain it. Some schemes have been advanced that create more divisions and problems in the church than can beresolved in a generation. I am sad that this is true. Thecry of "Peace, Peace," when there is no peace is notnew. I have observed the creeping fungus of false peacefor the past twenty-five or thirty years. It is the opiate of the many who want peace at any cost. I do not thinkthere is a single phase of life of a Christian that has notbeen tarnished by false peace.

Let this be understood: I allow no man to hold a greater desire for peace and unity among brethren inthe Lord than do I. I will permit no man to do morethan I, within the limits of my ability, to bring aboutthe unity that is taught in the word of God. But I willfollow no man into the murky, putrid waters of sectarian unionism, bound by that compromise of truth that produces no better than the unbelief ofdenominationalism. I stand for unity .among all Christians, but only upon the condition of the New Testament, As far as I am concerned there is never an exception.

I assure you I do not envision myself a referee ofbrotherhood problems, I do not consider myself avenerable sage who has all the answers; I am sure I donot know all the questions. I do not speak for any church, paper, school, or segment of brotherhoodthinking. I do not expect nor want any glory, power orhonor for what is said in this and the following articles.I am simply speaking for myself and pointing out whatI believe to be some very dangerous concepts relativeto the unity among brethren in the Lord. Furthermore,all I read in papers and books represents only theviews of the individual authors. No one can speak for achurch or the brotherhood, and he certainly does notspeak for me!

The Word of God—The Only Standard

The Bible is complete, an unchangeable book whoseauthor is God. Neither time nor the customs and traditions of men will change one word of it. For thosewho become unhappy with the word exactly as it isrevealed, they will certainly turn to their own law

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EDITORIAL STEW

This is our annual mixture of unrelated things which we prefer to call "editorial stew." We hope you will find something of interest.

Articles by James R. Cope

We have already carried several items sent by James

R. Cope, though we have said nothing about the factthat he has agreed to submit several articles a year forthe paper. Brother Cope is not only a preacher of greatexperience, and an educator, he is, as well, an excellentthinker and writer. He was the first editor of The Preceptor. His writings there had a great impact forgood. We are pleased to be able to share material fromhis mature and seasoned background with our readers.We have asked him to submit some articles on thingsrelated to the family and he has consented. He has preached on the subject throughout the nation for anumber of years. These articles are especially needed ina time when the very foundations of family life arecrumbling. We might also mention that brother Copeis available for a little more meeting work now than hehas had time for in the past. He would do any congregation good.

Exchange Students and the Church

Several times in the last few years we have been contacted by parents or friends of young people who have decided to enter a student exchange program insome other country. Such opportunities offer a rich educational advantage. The question we are asked concerns the presence of brethren in the countrychosen where the student, who is a Christian, mayworship during the year of study. Most of the time, thestudent is going to a place where there is no congregation known to be meeting anywhere near theplace of study. We raise this question for you toponder. Is anything really a good opportunity if itplaces you in a situation where you cannot assemblewith the Lord's people and do with them what Godrequires of his own? Is it really an advantage at allwhen spiritual ties will be weakened and spiritualresponsibilities ignored? "The fear of the Lord is thebeginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7).

P.O. Box Change

We have not moved, but our P. O. Box has been changed. In the Post Office at Brooks, Kentucky wehave had new boxes installed. In the number sequence

our old box number was a small box, not large enoughto hold the volume of mail we receive. So, we are P.O. Box 69 from now on. We have been using that new number for sometime in the paper though nothing specific has been said about it.

About Bobbie

In August it was necessary for my wife, Bobbie, tohave a mastectomy to remove a malignancy. She is presently undergoing radiation therapy. She is doing very well and able to carry on many of her normal activities, including her expert help in getting thepaper to you each month. We have received cards,letters and phone calls from all over the country andwant all who have expressed interest and assured us oftheir prayers to know how much we appreciate these indications of love and concern.

The Condensed Bible

The Readers Digest has gone too far. For years theyhave published condensed versions of popular novels.Now that have brought out a condensed version of theBible. That makes it a perversion and not in reality aversion. When God gave the law to Moses to be delivered to Israel, he said "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminishought from it, that ye may keep the commandments ofthe Lord your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2).The book of God closes with a warning against tampering with what he said. "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plaguesthat are written in this book: And if any man shalltake away from the words of the book of this prophecy,God shall take away his part out of the book of life, andout of the holy city, and from the things written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19). It is the essence of presumption to decide that a part of the word of God may be deleted. The word of God does not needcondensation. It needs to be digested all right—ALL ofit.

While on the subject, we observe in a few placessome of the brethren bringing all sorts of new, modernspeech versions, translations or paraphrases. Perhapsmore teaching is in order on the difference between atranslation and a perversion.

Foreign Preachers In Need of Support

There are three excellent native men in Italy in needof support. One lost $300 a month recently, another$400 and another $650. All of these men are involved in good work which is making great progress in theland of popedom. Each one is preaching on the radio with increasing success and two of them have weeklytelevision programs which are making majorbreakthroughs. The work in that land has had such anuphill struggle and it is a shame now to see the workcurtailed and the efforts of these men stymied at thevery time when their patience and faithfulness in workare beginning to bear much fruit.

We continue to hear from preachers whom we personally know and about whose work we have been aware for the past 12 years in the Philippines whohave either already lost support or will soon be losingit. I

speak of mature men who have been faithful undertrying times and circumstances. They will remain faithful now, but their work is being severely hindered.There are many congregations now on the remote island of Palawan. There are only six fully supportedpreachers on that island and now three of them arelosing their support. Dedicated men on Luzon and Mindanao who have established scores of congregations in the last few years now must divertprecious time from the noble work of stabilizing congregations of babes in Christ which they haveestablished to secular work to supply the daily needs oftheir families. This is a tragedy. Unworthy men shouldnot be supported anywhere in the world. But men whoare true to the book, dedicated in personal life, godly incharacter, and who want to devote their time and energies to the full service of the kingdom, have a right to be supported, the philosophies and sociological opinions of some of the American brethren to the contrary notwithstanding.

Send News Items to Wilson Adams

Although every newsletter report in this paperbegins with the name and address of Wilson Adams,who writes this column, some continue to send news items to me. That only delays things. Wilson lives in Maryland while I live in Kentucky. He has a cutoff date for his column to be forwarded to me each month. Anything received after that time has to wait until thenext month. We also ask those submitting news itemsto condense as much as possible. Our space is limited.We do want to share your news with other people. Itjust helps when you boil it down.

Long Articles

While exceptions need to be made now and then because of the import of some material, we request writers to try and keep your manuscripts within a reasonable length. Three and one half pages doublespaced fills one page of type in the paper. Some of ourwriters have been getting longer and longer with manuscripts. The material is usually excellent but it isnot always possible to use long pieces. Please help us inthis.

Winter Work

With 23 meetings behind us for 1982, we gladly anticipate three months of class teaching with the Expressway congregation in Louisville. In addition toSunday appointments in the immediate area, I will present a ten week series on Humanism: Blueprint forMoral and Spiritual Destruction; CongregationalLeadership Development; and the book of Revelation.We enjoy these winter studies more each year. Overthe last seven years we have seen the interest growuntil we had our best attendance of all last winter. The Friday morning class (Revelation) is a two hour study.Who comes? Well, last winter we had 55 to enroll in ourFriday morning class on Ezra and Nehemiah. In addition to Expressway members who are free at thattime, some come from area congregations, including,last year, 15 preachers. Oh yes, we hope to find some

time to sit by the fire and watch it crackle on coldnights.

Welcome, New Readers

We are receiving a substantial number of new subscriptions each month. We welcome these new readers. We have many friends who have been with usfor years, some since the beginning of this paper in1960. We consider you "family" and thank you foryour encouragement over the years.

Religious Supply Center

We continue to enjoy the finest possible relationshipwith the good folks at Religious Supply Center. We carry paid ads from them in each issue of the paper.Their business helps us stay in business and we areglad to note that their volume of business increaseseach year. The paper and the book store are two separate businesses. Please do not address paperbusiness to them nor book business to the paper. If youdo not have one of their catalogs, they will be glad tosend you one. They have an excellent stock of supplies,including class literature, maps, communion supplies,tracts, film strips and projectors, commentaries andbooks, books, books. Many are now taking advantageof their toll free number for customers outside the state of Kentucky. David Key, Phyllis Key, Mary Catherine (Wimpy) Threlkel and Marie Ricks are always ready to help you.

On the evening of July 4th, my family and I sat in acrowd of 400,000 people who, like us, had assembled on the national mall to view the highly acclaimed Independence Day fireworks spectacular. It was impressive. The National Symphony, positioned onthe Capitol's west lawn, played such grand patrioticmelodies as America The Beautiful, Stars and Stripes, The Star Spangled Banner, and God Bless America, while a gala display of colors exploded in rapid succession over the pinnacle of the Washington Monument. I must confess that I felt more than a tinge of national pride. As I viewed the scenes of that evening, scenes which etched a permanent place in my memory, I couldn't help but consider all the great blessings which God has so richly and gratuitously bestowed upon us as a nation.And, as I watched the pageantry of that night reflectitself into the eyes of my little girl, I just had towonder about her future and I just had to think a littlebit about the question—Will God Continue To BlessUs?

Do you realize that we are rich? We in the UnitedStates are living the most comfortable lives of anygeneration in the history of the world. We take forgranted possessions which others can only dream about. We throw away more food in one day thansome families have in a week. Even our dogs and catsreceive better nourishment and medical attention than millions of people in the world. We have been richlygifted and abundantly blessed. And do you know thatmost of us take it all for granted? We seemingly are insuch a constant rush that we can't spare the time tocarefully and prayerfully consider God's goodness to us. We have a tendency to forget that God is theprovider of all good things and that without His aid wewould have nothing.

Preparatory to entrance into the promised land, Moses spake with the congregation of Israel concerning the dangers of affluence and opulence thatthey would face in Canaan. He warned them of the inclination they might have to forget God as the sourceof their blessings and he reminded them of the consequences of such forgetfulness and thanklessness (Deut. 8:7-20). We too would do well totake such admonition to heart lest we get so caughtup in our own self-sufficiency that we forget our dependence upon God and lose the precious blessingswe now enjoy in this our land of promise.

Will God Continue to Bless America?

1. YES, if we humble ourselves and realize that no nation is indestructible!

The Proverbial writer affirms that "the Lord will tear down the house of the proud" (15:25), and that"pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spiritbefore stumbling" (16:18). While the above principle is true of individuals, it is also true of nations. In Obadiah verses 3-4 we find where the arrogance ofEdom was the contributing factor to its destruction.Likewise, in Isa. 13:11; Ezek. 28:2; and 29:2-3 we note that the Old Testament powers of Babylon, Phoenicia and Egypt were brought down due to an over abundance of national self-worth. Even God's own people were removed as a nation because they sought to make alliances with other national powers instead of humbling themselves and expressing dependence upon God.

The Bible teaches, and human history shows it to becorrect, that no nation is indestructible. And the thingthat makes a nation great is NOT how many atomicbombs it has in it storehouses, or how many I.C.B.M.'sit has in it rapid deployment fleet, or the possession ofa balanced budget to stabilize its monetary system,etc. What makes a nation great is when the people ofthe nation give glory and thanks to God. "Unless theLord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keepsawake in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

2. YES, if we return to the moral principles of God! The

Bible says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, butsin is a disgrace to any people" (Prov. 14:34). If sin disgraces a nation, may I suggest that we are a disgraced and reproached people. Historians inform usthat it was internal moral decay which eventually ledto the fall of Rome. Perhaps we, like Belshazzar of old,need to see the handwriting on the wall. Things likeabortion on demand, pornography, homosexuality,gambling, drunkenness, and promiscuity are reachingepidemic proportions. And is it just I or have you also witnessed the gains that immorality and worldliness are making towards respectability amongChristians? Things which used to be considered worldly and evil are now endorsed and defended asgood by those making a claim of godliness. As Christians we must constantly fight the tendency ofleniency toward the attitudes of the world. We must recognize that the distinctive plea of New Testamentdiscipleship is not only to "speak where the Biblespeaks and to be silent where it is silent" but to livepure and holy lives before the world. As Paul noted inEphesians 6, we must wear the breastplate of righteousness next to our girdle of truth.

3. YES, if there is a restoration of the home as Godintended!

The breakdown of the family unit in this country isunbelievable. Thousands live together without the sanctity of marriage and one half of all those marriedend up in the divorce courts. Edward Gibbons in hisbook, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, gave as one of the reasons for the fall of Rome the "rapidincrease in divorce and the undermining of the dignityand sanctity of the home." It's no wonder America is in trouble because the home, the very glue that bondsour nation together, is in trouble. And where do weturn to correct the problem? Do we seek solutions bybuilding more day-care facilities where our children areraised by nine to five substitute mothers? Do we turnfor help to the humanistic public school system? No,there is only one place to begin the corrective processand that is to start with our own families in our own homes and to start NOW. It's the only hope we have.

4. YES, if there is a revival of dignity for man ascreated in the image of God!

I am sure that you are aware of what Genesis teaches. Folks, either God is, or there is no God! If God is, then man is responsible to God, must abide by God's standard and will be judged by that standard.However, if there is no God, if man is just a product ofchance, then the consequences we face are enormous. Ifthere is no God then there can be no absolute moral standard and nothing could be classified as wrong. If there is no God, you are an animal in a chance world, achaotic world. If there is no God there could be no such thing as love. Do you know why love has meaning?Love has meaning because God is and because God islove and because God made man in His image and gaveman the capacity to love and to be loved. But if there is no God, love is reduced to simply a chance arrangement of molecules. And do you know whymodern man has concocted this humanistic doctrine called "evolution?" It is because modern man in all of his so-called intelligence, can't imagine that there isany power greater than he. Yes, we must revive respectfor man, the offspring of God.

5. YES, if we realize that the God who created the universe is the God who rules the universe!

Benjamin Franklin, in his eighty-first year,addressed the Constitutional Convention by saying, "Ihave lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live themore convincing proofs I see of this truth: That Godgoverns in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannotfall to the ground without His notice, is it possible thatan empire rise without His aid?" The fate of our country is not determined in the halls of Congress orthrough Senate legislation or at 1600 PennsylvaniaAve. in Washington D.C. The fate of this country restsin the hands of God. As long as we realize that, He willcontinue to bless us. However, when we forget, theBible teaches, and human history can be called in totestify, that He will withhold His blessings.

6. YES, if we restore New Testament discipleship! We

must get the salvation message out of the fourwalls of the church building and into the hearts andlives of our associates. The early church didn't just meet on Sunday and that was the extent of their religion. They were a dedicated band of disciples whowere convicted that Jesus needed to be preached. So they did and so must we!

The United States prides itself on being the strongest nation in the world. We have received the impression that we are invincible and that we havesuch a reservoir of military fire power that we are indestructible. Are we? That all depends upon how you measure strength. Is the strength of a nation measuredin terms of guns and missiles and armies? No, thestrength of a nation is measured by the righteousnessthat manifests itself in the nation. What can I do, yousay? The most loyal, patriotic thing you can do foryour country is to be a faithful Christian. And if you do that, and if enough others join you in that, then maybe,just maybe, there will be enough salt, enough leaven,and enough light to preserve this great nation. God Bless America! I pray that He will continue to do so! *A couple of major points are the same as those included in an

article by Ken Weliever in the Gospel Guardian, Oct., 1976. I havenot seen his article but was informed of it by Ronny Milliner. Creditto whom credit is due.

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making. The result is separation from those who consider themselves Christians. The question is: Howshall UNITY be restored among those who are dividedbecause some held to the word and some left it for their own laws? If we make the word of God our onlystandard, we must return to it alone for unity. Any other plan will not produce unity!

I have long appreciated those men who have spentyears in the labor of preaching the gospel, most ofthem for little material remuneration for their labors. Many of the uncompromising warriors who bore thebattle scars of many conflicts now sleep with their fathers. Some remain whose countenance reflects the deep concern for the compromising problems that afew among them are causing. Young men who haveheard and read with interest of these battles for truth of which I speak are chagrined and bewildered at theobvious betrayal of the divine principles of unity among brethren by some whose age and experienceought to give them the knowledge and judgment tooppose every effort at compromise with error.

In the five articles that follow this one I shall try tofairly, honestly and scripturally examine Yater Tant'splan for unity in Vanguard and his attitude toward and work with the Crossroads Church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida. I believe he is wrong, gravely wrong, and will do the church of our Lord serious harmnow and in the future. If I did not think so I would not write one word about it. This whole affair is a matter of faith with me, not a matter or judgment. That is why Imust address myself to these issues now. Please be patient with me. If I am wrong, please show me fromthe Book and I will repent and turn.

When you renew, why not subscribe for a friend? All new subscriptions are $7.

THE ABUNDANT LIFE AND ATONEMENT

The Abundant Life theory, briefly stated, says thatwhen God promised to atone for man he promised tosave him from his sins, to cure the physical diseases ofhis body, and to make financial prosperity a reality inhis life. To reach this conclusion, the Pentecostalsassume that the "curse of sin" is physical disease,financial distress, as well as spiritual separation.

The Abundant Life theory is the Pentecostal mannerof viewing the atonement process. In its early stagesthe emphasis was on salvation, freedom from sin. Bythe middle of this century it had taken on an entirelynew stress. Instead of showing man what to do to besaved and later to receive the "second blessing"resulting in his "entire sanctification," the Pentecostalpreachers began to show the hearers that redemptionincluded not just forgiveness, but the promise ofhealth and wealth as well. "As we go back, to thesebooks—or to the law—we find that the curse, orpunishment for breaking God's law is threefold. It ispoverty. It is sickness. It is the second death,"' saysone of the popular proponents of the doctrine today. Aradio broadcast monitored in December, 1978 fromBaton Rouge, Louisiana featured David Nunn, whosaid, "Your salvation, your healing, your deliverancefrom financial poverty are all wrapped up in one ball ofwax, the atoning death of Christ."2 The argument isthat since atonement is intended to rid the curse of sin it must have as its function the ridding of poverty, sickness, and the second death.

Atonement is just what the word implies, at-onement. "As applied to the redemptive work of Christ,atonement is variously used by theologians in thesense of 'reconciliation' 'expiation' according to the view of its nature."3 The Bible teaches the concept inmany places, Matt. 16:21; II Tim. 1:8-10; I Pet. 1:1819, showing in these verses what it is; and in suchpassages as II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:3; I Pet. 3:18; Heb.9:26; Rom. 5:5-8 what it does. It should be carefullynoted that atonement is necessary because man becomes separated from God by his sin (Isa. 59:1-2;Ezk. 18:20; Rom. 6:23) and that Christ came into theworld to remove that which had estranged men fromGod. It is not poverty, mind you, that has separatedmen from God and it is not disease, either. It is sin. Atonement, therefore, is a system for the forgiveness of sin. Notice that in each of the passages cited there isnot one mention of man's poverty, or man's physicaldisorders. It is sin which is the subject of atonementand Christ came to make possible the forgiveness ofsin because it was sin which had caused man to be separated from God.

That the atonement does not insure against healthproblems is obvious in Scripture. In II Tim. 4:20, Paulsays, "Erastus abode at Corinth; but Trophimus haveI left at Miletum sick." In I Tim. 5:23, Paul toldTimothy, "Drink no longer water, but use a little winefor thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." And regarding his own "thorn in the flesh," he said"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee,for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Mostgladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities . .. " I f the atonement included freedom from pain, aninsured perennial good health, why these godly men's infirmities (a word which means sickness)?

Likewise, there is ample testimony in Scripture toshow that the Bible doctrine of atonement did not promise wealth and prosperity as part of its benefits. In Acts 4:34, we are told, "Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and broughtthe prices of the things that were sold and laid them atthe apostles feet and distribution was made to everyman according as he had need." In Acts 11:29, following the prediction of a great drought, the narrative says, "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief tothe brethren which dwelt in Judea." If the atonement was for financial reasons, why were there poor saintsin various places? To the Corinthians Paul says ofJesus, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes hebecame poor, that ye through his poverty might berich." But the riches he mentions had nothing at allto do with their being relieved from their financial woes.

One of the passages frequently used by the advocates of the Abundant Life theory is Jno. 10:1011 which says, "The thief cometh not but for to stealand to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they mighthave life and have it more abundantly. I am thegood shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life forthe sheep." The context in which this passage is setshows that the abundant life to which he refers is not physical at all, but eternal life. Later, Jesus (verse 28) makes the point emphatically clear when in the midst of a discussion, using the same figure of theshepherd and the sheep, he says, "But ye do not believe because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you, My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life ..." Theabundant life he here explains in the very same figure, and with a reference to what he had before said, iseternal life and does not refer to man's physical wellbeing.

I do not deny that God provides for his own, but I dovehemently deny that the abundant life he provides isone free from disease or devoid of financial distress. The Bible does not teach it.

Another widely used passage among the advocates

of the Abundant Life theory is 1 Tim. 4:8, "For bodilyexercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitableunto all things, having promise of the life that now isand of that which is to come." The Pentecostal theoryputs undue stress on "the life that now is" and gives ita meaning not intended by God. One must not readinto it any reference to the provisions for health andwealth. I aver that the promises referred to here concern the godliness which furnishes us here in lifewhatever is necessary to insure for us those things weneed in order to procure the life that is to come (Cf. IIPet. 1:3-4). For instance, God gives the gospel to save(Rom. 1:16-17); the peace of knowing you are right withGod (Phil. 4:7); the way of escape from temptation (IICor. 10:13); the encouragement to help overcome trials(II Cor. 1:7); the avenue of prayer (Heb. 4:16); and thechurch for our mutual provocation (Heb. 10:24). Thissentiment is encapsulated in the Lord's enjoiner in Rev. 2:10. "Be thou faithful (in this life) unto death,and I will give thee a crown of righteousness (the lifehereafter)." Besides, look again at the contextual setting of I Tim. 4:8. In verse 9 and 10 he says, "Thisis a faithful saying and worth of all acceptation. Fortherefore we both labor and suffer reproach, becausewe trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of allmen, specially of those that believe." Does that soundlike he is speaking of the relief of difficulties and theprovisions of riches? I think not. He says we labor andsuffer reproach, a clear reference to being uncomfortable because of living a life for God.

F. F. Bosworth, one of the early proponents of theAbundant Life theory once said, "Redemption is synonymous with Calvary, therefore we are redeemedfrom the entire curse, body, soul, and spirit solely through his atonement." But the question is not whether or not we are all to be eventually redeemed,body, soul, and spirit but when it is to occur. In I Cor.15:42-43, we read, "So also is the resurrection of thedead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power." Noticethat prior to the resurrection the body was in corruption, dishonor, weakness. It is at the resurrection that it becomes incorruptible, glorified,empowered. It is when the body is raised that the ultimate salvation of the body takes place. It is neverpromised on this side of the resurrection. Further testimony is given in the conclusion of the same context. I Cor. 15:53-56. "For this corruption must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up invictory. O death where is thy sting? O grave where isthy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin in the law." When shall be brought to pass thesaying? THEN shall it be; at the resurrection. We areredeemed in the body at the same time our eternal reward is realized. Until that time there is no assurance from the Scriptures that we will not be sick, or poor,or both, even though we have been redeemed from sin.

Some final statements are in order to make sure the case is properly stated:

1. The atonement is that system or process whichsatisfied divine justice and made possible ourreconciliation. In short, it is the death of Christwhich in its effect secures for us a peace with God(Rom. 5:1-3). Atonement is the central theme of theBible, the cardinal doctrine of Christianity (I Tim.1:15). But the atonement of the Scriptures hardlyresembles that being fomented by the proponentsof the Abundant Life theory, for it never makesany reference to making provision for any sort ofsickness or for the alleviation of any financialdistresses which might have occurred or will occurin the future.
2. The abundant life of the Bible is in fact realized only as we, because of our faithfulness during ourperiod of probation, are judged worthy of it ineternity through the grace of God. Paul so affirmsin Rom. 6:22, "but now being made free from sinand become servants of God, ye have your fruitunto holiness, and the end everlasting life." The abundant life, even if viewed as it relates to ourphysical existence, is abundant because we have"all spiritual blessings" because of our connectionwith Christ. Surely no life could be abundant which is devoid of that connection. But primarily theconcept of the abundant life as portrayed in the Scriptures is that of our eternal life.

It needs to be understood that regeneration or salvation is not a miracle at all, but rather the effect of compliance with the stated spiritual truths containedin the word of God. Salvation consists of our trusting in God and obeying the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). Thatword of God states for us both the ground of our salvation (atonement), and the conditions of it. There isnothing miraculous about forgiveness; it is merely theact in God's mind when, upon man's compliance withHis stated conditions, He freely extends forgiveness,remembering man's sins no more. So, the abundant life is finally resolved in the forgiveness of sins and theeternal reward provided for the faithful.

1

REDEEMED, by Kenneth Hagin, Published by Hagin

Ministries, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1980, Pg. 19 ' Radio Broadcast Monitored in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1980. 3 THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY, Oxford Publishing

Co., London, England ' CHRIST THE HEALER, by F. F.

Bosworth, quoted in MODERN DIVINE HEALING by Waymon D. Miller, published by Miller Publishing Co., Ft. Worth, 1956, Pg. 133.

BELOVED FLORIDA PREACHER

Born May 30, 1903, Byron B. Conley passed hisearthly life July 9, 1982, shortly after entering hiseightieth year. By common consent among those whoknew him personally and who knew about him, thisman probably taught and baptized more people inFlorida than any other gospel preacher, living or dead, unless it was W. A. Cameron of St. Petersburg who came to Florida about the turn of this century and diedat about age 90, almost 25 years ago. I mention thisbecause I knew both men and was closely associatedwith Brother Cameron the last few years of his life anddrank deeply of his reminiscences of experiences in theSunshine State many years before I was born.

Byron Conley's Baptist parents were exceedinglyreligious and morally above reproach. He knew enoughBible to realize that they and close relatives, though sincere, were not following the doctrine taught andpracticed by Jesus and His apostles. He could never"get the 'irresistible feeling' ' that his family insistedhe should have if the Holy Spirit took direct control of his own spirit. Nevertheless, he longed to know themind of God.

His move to Tampa from Lawrenceville, Illinois, at age 23 in search of employment proved the turningpoint in young Conley's life. He obtained work at a dairy farm east of Tampa where he met a couple withwhom he attended worship at Plant City—HomerLewis and wife recently moved to the Brandon area.

Tolbert Beshong and wife also contributed much toyoung Conley's spiritual enlightenment and growth.Though he was giving one dollar out of every ten heearned to promote the gospel inquiring Byron did notobey it for another year. He studied constantly,questioned and learned. Under the protracted meetingpreaching of Marshall Keeble in Tampa, Byron Conleybecame a simple Christian, being baptized December25, 1927. Shortly thereafter he began making shorttalks in the Tampa-Plant City area.

Realizing that there was much to learn and much todo for his Lord, Conley felt that intensive schoolingwas the fastest means to that end, yet resources werelimited. Somehow he attended Freed-Hardeman College for one year (1930-31) enrolling in the "Preacher's Course," and benefited greatly from theinfluence of the great teachers of that school. He often remarked that both he and the brethren seriouslywondered if he would ever succeed as a preacher. Hefelt keenly that he must make his own place by provinghimself. In June 1931, he began work in Lakeland withthe Central church. His tenure was about 18 months but he held some very successful meetings at Kathleen, Bradley Junction and two at Auburndale.More than 100 were baptized in the Auburndale effortand a church established in 1932. Other Polk Countychurches served over the years through Conley's preaching were Winter Haven, Mulberry, two in Bartow, Dundee and Fort Meade, the latter two established as a result of his efforts. In addition, he didmuch of the physical labor in building meeting housesat the latter two places.

In July, 1931, at Winter Haven, Florida, our brotherconducted his first protracted meeting. Though he wasnot "in the market" for a wife, it was during thismeeting the 28-year old Conley met the young ladywho was later to become his companion for life andbear him five sons and five daughters. In June, 1934,Mary Lee Matthews wed Byron B. Conley. It is doubtful that there has been a more sympathetic, sacrificing preacher's wife within the last 40 yearsthan Mary Lee Conley. This is not to ignore thehundreds of other faithful, unselfish women who havekept the home fires burning while their husbandssowed kingdom seed but it is to record and pay tributeto the name of one who bore the brunt of the burden in the heat of the day that, as she saw it, her beloved might fulfill his calling. One brother who has knownthe Conley family for 50 years observed that she "wasa patient, longsuffering wife who sacrificed and tookcare of the family while he was away in the work of theLord."

Following his Winter Haven meeting Conley was intent meetings in the general Polk County area for the next four years. In 1935, he conducted a greatlysuccessful meeting for the Nebraska Avenue church inTampa which inspired Tampa brethren to hold manytent meetings. Nebraska Avenue, Seminole Heights,Howard Avenue and Gary became exceedingly activeand used brother Conley repeatedly in such efforts.The old Sulphur Springs church resulted from a tentmeeting held in 1935. The preaching continued nightlyfor nine weeks and resulted in 103 baptisms.

Thomas G. Butler of Lakeland, who knew brotherConley well and heard him many times made this observation about Conley's tent meetings in Central and Northern Florida: "These meetings were numerous. His early method of preaching was filling a blackboard with scriptural references numbering ashigh as 75 and quoting these scriptures. This methodwas very successful. He changed his method the latter years of his life and became less effective." Commenting on his strength and power, Brother Butler said, "His general appearance and speech ofhumility endeared him to most people. The wide use ofscripture quoted impressed his hearers. His willingness to do physical labor in helping to buildchurch buildings and

homes of members also brought him favor with thepeople."

Many and moving were the protracted preachmentsof this soldier of the cross. In Central, East and NorthFlorida he labored abundantly. Much of this work wasmade possible by the Riverside church in Jacksonvillewhich began supporting him in 1940. He was regularly in tent work in towns and other communities where the New Testament order was unknown or exceedinglyweak. In 1946 he preached at Alma, Georgia. Theresults were a new church of the Lord in that town,brother Conley's moving his family to Alma, and,laboring with the Alma church, together they built ameeting house.

In 1949 the Conley family moved back to PolkCounty and built a house at Bartow. The Lake Wirechurch in Lakeland supported him for many years ashe held gospel meetings in that area. During those same years he made numerous trips to Barbados forprotracted periods of preaching. He felt that some ofhis most self-rewarding work was done here becausethe people were tremendously anxious to learn thetruth and worship according to the Biblical plan.

The 1966-1977 period found Conley at Belle Gladefor a year; Spring Warrior, near Perry, for three years;back to Fort Meade three years and Center Hill, nearTrenton for four years. Failing health resulted in hisreturn to the Main Street church in Bartow where he preached and taught Bible classes until his stroke onMay 8, 1982. He was hospitalized for two weeks but,back home, he insisted on worshipping the followingSunday. This continued regularly for a month. Hereturned for surgery and was recovering nicely whenpneumonia took over. His valiant heart gave up itsfight and the spirit of this humble soldier left itsearthly tabernacle forever in the early hours of July 9.Funeral services were conducted by Ed Britt, JackHobby and Thomas G. Butler on July 12 with familymembers and friends singing some of brother Conley's favorite hymns. An overflowing audience and a largenumber of floral designs bespoke the love and esteemin which many who knew of his passing held him and his family. Thousands have been blessed by the life ofthis humble servant of the Lord and many of those willlearn of his passing upon reading these lines.

Brother Conley kept no record of meetings held,numbers baptized, miles traveled, cars, tents and tenttrailers, attached to his autos, which were worn out byusage in the Lord's service. Nobody knows. Usually,however, when this man arrived in a town to begin agospel meeting he had all things needful withhim—tent, platform, seats, wiring, light bulbs, chalkboard and song books. Inside his heart there burned apassion for souls seldom observed in today's world.

Brother Conley held views and some practices which some readers of these lines do not accept, though others accept some of them. Brother Conley believedkneeling to be the only acceptable prayer posture andthat women should wear a man-made covering inworship assemblies. Some have thought that he opposed use of human literature comments in Bible

classes. Sister Conley says, "He preferred thatteaching be done only from an open Bible, but that heused literature in his study." There are some who say he "gave comfort" to Joe Taylor, a Plant City preacherof more than thirty years ago, who was understood bymany preachers and brethren to teach that there was a distinct difference between the church of Christ and the kingdom of Christ. I am one who understood thisto have been brother Taylor's views and published anarticle opposing this position in The Preceptor ofSeptember, 1952. Upon asking Sister Conley aboutthis allegation regarding brother Conley, she replied,"Byron believed the church and the kingdom were thesame, but he also said, ' If one really understood whatbrother Taylor was teaching on the church and thekingdom he would find that he was not as far off as tosome he might seem.'" I never had occasion to hear brother Conley speak publicly or privately on any ofthese matters.

Two of his longtime friends and greatestadmirers—Edwin Britt of Plant City and Jack Hobbyof Orlando—have made these observations about brother Conley:

Brother Britt:

"He was the kindest and most humble man I ever met. As he preached the gospel in his own kind way, hehad a manner that forced conviction into the hearts of his listeners. He was at home with the hearts of those who heard when he came down from the pulpit into theaisles and there talked as a father to his children. He was never offensive in attitude or word but both were so simple and kind and piercing that you wanted tocorrect your mistakes. Through his preaching brotherConley brought more people to repentance than anyman I have ever known. He, perhaps, has baptized asmany people into Christ, helped straighten as manylives, and settled as many differences among brethrenas any other person in Florida. When he led in prayerone could not but feel that he was lifted to the verythrone and presence of God.

"To me and to others he was what Paul was to Timothy. He loved the truth of God and every lessonhad the ring of sincerity and honesty that was unmistakable to all who heard.

"For 32 years, my wife and I knew and loved himand his good wife who made sacrifices for him and thegospel of which many never knew. He held manymeetings for us at Cork where I have been preachingsince I first heard him in a tent meeting at Plant City.The brethren at Cork, with cheerful hearts, werealways willing to respond to his needs and oftensupported him in "hard places."

"There is an emptiness in my own and my family's life because of his death. We thank God for the opportunities to share so many pleasant hours withhim and to learn from him."

Brother Hobby:

"My first memory of brother Conley is in connectionwith the 1950 Florida College Lecture program.Brother Cope, you did something quite unusual. Youasked all preachers present to stand, state their names and tell where they preached. He and several of hisstair-step children sitting beside him arose immediately in front of Ruth and me (I had no idea hewas a preacher but well I remember that scene as one of his boys put his arm around his father's waist while the entire row stood beside him). Almost, if not altogether apologetically, brother Conley stated hisname and added, 'I guess you might say I preach mostanywhere in the sticks of Florida.' When he said that something else unusual happened—brethren applauded! No doubt somebody from those Florida'sticks' started it but we all joined in. An indelible impression was made upon me by Byron Conley thatday. It has never changed but only deepened. Todayit is a gorge, a canyon! Humility, dedication to the core, selflessness, godliness, earnestness,sincerity—God first with everything else way back inthe pack!

"I am confident that he has planted more churchesand made more Christians in Florida than any otherperson ever has or possibly ever will. Many share thisopinion. As you know, he debated the great Baptistdebater, Ben M. Bogard. Mr. Bogard would not havedebated brother Conley had he not deemed him apowerful and effective force in converting souls to thecause he espoused.

"I have heard him in various meetings, hosted him intwo meetings and held four or five meetings where hewas the local preacher. That, i.e., those soul-stirringvisits, was where my spiritual ship really came in! Letme give you an example.

"It was in the old house known as the Spring Warrior preacher's home. The walls were very thinallowing sound to pass with little interruption. After'goodnights' had been said each evening I could hearthe sound of brother Conley's voice in prayer. I havealways imagined him and sister Conley on their kneesbeside their bed. I did not try to pick up his words butonce when their youngest son was in the military in faroff Korea and the news was quite upsetting thoughthe international problems supposedly had beensettled long since, I heard the tender voice of brotherConley plead, 'Be with our son on foreign soil.'. Do I need tell you that I fell asleep with wet cheeks thatnight?

"Of all his attributes Brother Conley's humility isthe one that repeatedly tops my assessment list. Withthat quality, however, there was a 100 per cent firm, uncompromising, straight-ahead firmness. To illustrate, I recall the following incident. During ameeting I was holding brother Conley observed thatthere was a sister that we should visit in an effort to stir her support of the meeting but that she probablywould not respond. Nevertheless, duty demanded anhonest effort. The woman received us cordially, butmomentarily excused herself from the room. As shereturned brother Conley observed, obviously for thesister's benefit as well as mine, 'Brother Hobby, years ago sister________ made a decision to go to heavenwhen she died but she has changed her mind. And I'm sorry because I need her to help me go.' He was noticeably sincere in every word he said humbly, in undeniable love for an indifferent soul and, as I feltthen, with all the force of a tornado! To myself Ithought, 'Cure or kill!' But I was wrong. Neither wasthe case. Good spiritedly the woman said, 'Yes, I guessthat's about right.' A pleasant visit followed but to noavail. She ignored our gospel meeting but held no illwill toward her reprover. Byron Conley combinedhumility and hard-hittingness far beyond most persons I've ever known.

"In both private and public teaching, one thing camethrough loud and clear, viz., that Byron Conleybelieved and loved the Lord and the word of the Lord which he preached. Whatever his subject and with norecognizable effort on his part, this quality shonethrough. In every syllable of every word, in everyinflection of his voice, this man transmitted howmuch—how very much—how sincerely and how deeplyhe believed the Lord and the Word of the Lord which he preached."

As a preacher who began his ministry about sevenyears after brother Conley began his, I commend toone and all who read these lines the life of this man as worthy of reflection and pursuit in excellence of characteristics. "Be ye imitators of me as I am of Christ" was apostle Paul's exhortation. Brother Conley did and would place the same limitation on hisown example. For younger preachers especially Iwould suggest the life of Byron Conley as worthy ofcareful analysis. "Truly, there is a prince and a greatman fallen this day in Israel" (2 Sam. 3:38).

It is my understanding that brother James Yopp, 1Carolina Ave., Lake City, FL 32055, is writing adetailed biography of brother Conley. I am sure that hewould appreciate receiving any bit of information anyperson might have about Byron Conley regardless ofthe little value such information may appear to be toits possessor. Often it is the heretofore untold storieswhich make biographies most meaningful and interesting. I am particularly indebted to Thomas G.Butler, Edwin Britt, Jack Hobby and Mrs. ByronConley for most of the details of this article.—J. R. C.

LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER

Everyone has a different personality. When eldershave been appointed you have two or more men notonly learning to oversee the flock, but in doing so theymust learn to get along with each other. This is absolutely essential.

In an eldership there may be an age span. When theyoungest is about 45 years old and the oldest is about65 or 70, this factor will affect the performance of all ofthem. These men will be from different generations andall the rest somewhere in between. Thinking will becolored by such a time span as this.

Do not look for perfect men. They cannot be found.Brethren often set a standard higher than the Lorddid. The eldership will always be composed of imperfect men. Their function will be to oversee and guide a flock of imperfect people. Elders are men who, though imperfect, have reached a plateau ofspiritual maturity. When combined with the exhibitof their family unit, such men have demonstrated theirability to govern a family with a high degree ofsuccess. In an eldership there is a plurality of suchmen who now must make another adjustment. Theymust learn to work together as elders in the best interest of the local church. There will be problem areas.

Personality Differences. In a group of elders you will have as many personalities as there are men. Onemay be a little on the slow side, another blunt andundiplomatic, another somewhat impetuous. Another may have a low flashpoint. One may be a businessman, another a farmer, professional man, factory worker or even a preacher. Varyingoccupations and background will give a diversity ofviewpoints which, properly integrated, can result inwise and sound decisions. Remember that the varietyof occupations and backgrounds also exists within thecongregation itself. It therefore makes for a balancedstructure.

It takes some men longer to reach a decision thanothers. Some do not know how to hurry. There is no way to get them to hurry. Such efforts would onlyconfuse them and prolong the matter further. Somemen have a penchant for fine points. They can drivethe others up the wall. Yet this can serve a goodpurpose in causing the others to be more thorough. Sometimes a man has the unusual ability of seeing thewhole picture quickly and makes a decision withouttoo much delay. Others tend to be rash and move tooquickly. The plurality of overseers is God's cross-check at such times.

There will be differences. Since matters of faith have already been determined by the Lord, any differencesthat arise should surely be in the realm of judgment oropinion. Yet, in any given situation there is the possibility of good judgment or bad judgment beingexercised. Personalities can be a strong factor in suchmatters. An unwillingness to yield in matters of judgment is a poor attitude to say the least and withbut a little cultivation can position a man to become aDiotrephes and dominate both the eldership and thechurch. When tyrannical attitudes come upon thescene, trouble is just around the corner. Elders are notlords (1 Peter 5:3).

Openness Needed. Elders are to function as a unit. They have no right to politic the members or makespot decisions on their own. To do so is to encourageseparateness instead of togetherness. When an elder isapproached by a member about a church-related matter, he should introduce the matter to the othersfor consideration. It is natural that members will sometimes consult with one more than another. This is all right just so long as it is understood that it is not asecret and must be presented for consideration to theothers. Clandestine efforts of members to have "confidentiality" on matters that are flock-related reflects a party spirit and tends to be divisive. If amatter is important enough to be brought to theelders, they all have a right to know all the detailsincluding the name or names of involved members. Amember or an elder who is unwilling to do this bringsnatural suspicion upon themselves as to their motive.

This is not to say that elders cannot counsel and advise members who come to them about personalmatters. It is quite proper that this should be the case.In such matters, of a personal nature and not involving the church as such, there can be confidentiality.Indeed, there should be. At times all of the elders may possess personal information that the others do not know about. It is a trust to be kept. People will not feelfree to come with personal problems if they feel theirright to privacy will be disregarded.

NEXT ISSUE: Rapport With The Flock

THE "GOOD OLE DAYS"

"Say not thou, what is the cause that the formerdays were better than these? for thou dost not inquirewisely concerning this" (Eccl. 7:10).

Oh, for the good ole days! Apparently there hasalways been a tendency to so consider "the formerdays." I've heard young folks refer nostalgically to thegood ole days. One of my children often stated, "I wishit was like it used to be." She was six or seven years of age and looked back on the time when she lived in thecountry next door to grandparents who bear the responsibility for spoiling her. She had a pony to ride.And she longed for the good ole days.

We often hear the same thing in the church. Theformer days were better. The church was more militant. "My, how we grew in the 40's and 50's!"

When I lived in Louisville, folks talked about the good ole days before the division at Taylor Blvd.Members were working back in those days. The churchwas growing back then. Good things were happeningback in the good ole days.

Now when I go back some seem to think of the yearswhen I was there with them as good ole days.

I'm not a real good critic of all this. You see, I'mafflicted with the same malady. I catch myselfthinking of the good ole days. Back then they built aFord and a Chevy to last ten years like they should.Music was really music back then. The Bible was readand the pledge of allegiance recited each day in schoolin those days. And radio had it all over T.V. For onething, the pictures were better. Yes, in those days,things were a lot better. Tom Mix rode the range. LashLaRue cracked the whip. Roy, Gene, and Hopalongkept law and order every Saturday at the old Shrinetheater. And sometimes you could get in free with aboxtop from Hadacol.

Yet, Solomon advised us to "Say not, what is thecause that the former days were better than these?" Solet's raise the question a bit differently and ask: Whydo we think the former days were better?

Probably the main reason is that we fail to recall all the circumstances. We remember a few isolated, joyful,incidents, and we forget all the bad parts, as well as allthe grumbling we did at the time.

One lesson that stands out in this is that a lot of things don't mean very much to us until we lose them.There are several things like that.

Our Youth

No one appreciates youth except those who have lostit. Isn't it a shame that youth is wasted on the young?Why by the time we really get into a position toappreciate it, it's gone!

Older folks can only shake their heads in dismaywhen they see young folks with so much potentialwasting the precious moments and years, laying no foundation for the future, and paying no heed to olderand wiser heads. It's always been that way.

The white head is viewed as old-fogey by youth and older folks have always looked upon youth as frivolousand foolish, expecting of them wisdom which is impossible.

I think of my own former years of youth and I mustadmit that I don't long for those days. I don't envyteenagers. I wouldn't want to go through thosedifficult years again. Youth is a time of uncertainty,insecurity, and confusion. Few of us liked ourselves inHigh School days. The greatest advice to you may beread in this book of Eccl., chapter 12, verses 1-5.

Rather than long for the days of youth, let us be asPaul, "Forgetting the things which are behind andreaching forth unto the things which are before, let uspress toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We can't turn back. Those who try just make fools of themselves. Let us learn themeaning of the words: "Now is the accepted time.Today is the day of salvation."

Don't spend your years looking wistfully back. "...thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." Usewhat you have right now.

Our Parents

Both the Old and the New Testaments teach us to honor our father and mother. Most people do not appreciate good parents until they are gone. Afterlosing a parent, we often grieve over things we said orleft unsaid. Then we long for the good ole days.

Those whose parents are yet living should realizethat they'll not have a second chance to show them honor and respect. Don't wait until they are gone torealize what they mean to you.

But regardless of the memories, it's foolish to live in the past. I'm a parent now, and the laboring oar is inmy hand. The best honor I can give to the memory of agood father who is dead and gone is to strive to be agood dad myself. Let us use today and strive to makeour families what they ought to be.

Our Brethren

Do we recognize the blessing of Christian friends?Often we do not. We take them for granted. We do notlove them as we should. We often fall out with them over trivial differences.

Jesus taught that spiritual relationships are farmore wonderful and meaningful than physical ones(Matt. 12:46-50; Mark 10:29, 30). Several such relationships have developed in my life. There havebeen older couples who have taken my wife and me totheir hearts and have been as a father and mother to us. I think often of brothers and sisters in Christ who mean all the world to me, though the years and mileshave wedged us apart.

These are blessings we don't think of until they aregone. Then we speak of the good ole days when we weretogether with so and so.

It's easy to sit back and dream of close ties ofbygone years. But what about today? What am I doing with opportunities for service right now? Ihave brothers and sisters here now. Am I being afather to others? Am I bearing burdens as I should(Gal. 6:5)? Am I thankful for the fellowship? Or am I more interested in finding fault?

Our Freedoms

In this land there are many blessings and freedomsonly dreamed of in much of the world. The freedom toassemble. The freedom to teach publicly and via theprinted page. Many of us are concerned about freedoms being chipped away. Such is cause for concern. But what do we do with the freedoms we have?

Some are not as faithful as they ought to be. Relativefew are actively proclaiming the good news to others.In a land of Bibles, how do we use such a blessing?Some might as well live where a copy of the Bible isillegal.

If we really love truth, why take it for granted? If welove the Lord, why fail to worship and serve Him?It is unwise to think of the former days. What abouttoday?

Our Souls

Our greatest possession is our soul. It is the only possession which shall last forever. Yet the vastmajority will never appreciate their soul until theyhave lost it.

Jesus told us of a rich man who died (Luke 16:19-31).His soul did not mean much to him until it was too late. Neither did the souls of others hold any interestuntil he tragically realized that forever is a long time tobe lost.

In Hell, lost souls will long for former days andopportunities they let slip by. But it will be too late. How foolish to put off until tomorrow the salvation ofour souls.

ASK YOUR PREACHER

In our effort to try to rightly divide the word of

Truth as Paul instructs that we must do in II Timothy

2 :15, we have noted that after the death, burial,

resurrection and ascension of Christ, everyone did

exactly the same thing becoming Christians (which

involved receiving the remission of sins or being saved)

as we read from the Acts of the Apostles.

We have already studied the conversion of those onPentecost (Acts chapter 2). The people heard the firstgospel sermon in its entirety (that being the first timethe death, burial and resurrection of Christ could bepreached), believed what was preached concerningJesus being made both Lord and Christ and wanted toknow what to do regarding their sins (Acts 2:36-37).Having confessed their faith in Christ, they were toldto—but before we go any further, WHY NOT ASK YOUR PREACHER if he believes these people weresaved at this point. For, after all, many in the religiousworld today teach that when one hears the Word, believes the Word, confesses his faith in Christ, he is atthat point saved. But notice that those who teach such completely leave out verse 38. Ask your preacher if he thinks those who are desirous of becoming Christianscan leave out verse 38? Why according to Peter, thepeople needed to do those things found in verse 38 for the remission of sins. Let's read the passage: "ThenPeter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of theHoly Spirit." Why were they to repent and be baptized? Peter said it was for the remission of sins. Oh, some preacher may say, repentance is for the remission of sins, but baptism is NOT for the remission of Sins. Is that what your preacher wouldsay? If so, he is not telling you or others the samething that Peter and the rest of the apostles told these people. For they placed both repentance AND baptism BEFORE remission of sins.

Why not ask your preacher why he doesn't tell people the same thing the apostles told people to do tobe saved, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS AND BEBAPTIZED?

Please Renew Promptly!

Appropriate to the life he lived was the passing, onthe Lord's Day, October 3, 1982, of Harold F.Houchen. Born July 6, 1895 in the community of Hess,near Altus, Oklahoma, he lived and died "in the Lord,"having been "baptized into Christ" in 1907. While thefamily lived in Dill City, Oklahoma, Bro. Houchen wasa student at Cordell Christian College from 1912 to1915, On July 16, 1916 he was united in marriage toLaura Theresa Peratt who preceded him in death in1975, after 58 years together. To this union was bornone son, Hoyt H. Houchen, faithful gospel preacherand elder of the Boston Street church in Aurora,Colorado. Bro. Houchen served as a deacon in the congregation in Dill City from 1919 to 1922 when thefamily moved to Calexico, California. In May, 1923,the Houchens moved to Ontario, California where heresided until his death. He served as a deacon in the Ontario church from 1926 to 1931, and as an elder from1931 until the death of his beloved wife in February,1975. Employed by the city of Ontario in 1942, heserved as Superintendent of Parks from 1960 to 1965,when he retired. In addition to his son, Hoyt, he issurvived by three grandsons: Ron of Ft. Worth, Texas,Dennis of Aurora, Colorado, and Larry of Orange,California; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of loving brethren and friends. Memorial services wereconducted in Ontario, California on Friday, October 8,1982, after which his body was laid to rest beside thatof his beloved Laura, in the Bellevue Cemetery, toawait the resurrection. At the memorial service, FordCarpenter of Montclair, California, a friend of thefamily for 42 years, spoke of the good influence ofHarold Houchen, and I set forth reasons for his greatness which had been impressed upon me through32 years of acquaintance and association with him.

Harold Houchen was a great man, not because of wealth, or fame, or political power, or popularity, butbecause he was a Christian. He was not only a "greatChristian," but he was "great because he was a Christian." As a godly elder of the Ontario church for over 44 years, he left a rich heritage of example,worthy of the emulation of any man who may desirethe office. He was a loving husband and a beloved son-in-law, a dutiful and caring father, and such a worthyexample to his family that the name "Houchen" is destined to proudly survive ages to come.

As a faithful and responsible employee of the city of Ontario, he left the citizens a heritage of honesty, integrity, industry, beauty and happiness. He was agreat man because of the life that he lived before hisneighbors and friends, many of whom he led to "theLamb of God," and all of whom will cherish, in fondremembrance, his exemplary life.

He was a friend of so many gospel preachers, loving the Word of God and those who faithfully proclaimedit, always ready to encourage them by his presence, hisprayers, and his support. Yet, he was just as forthrightin his opposition to religious error and those whoespoused it.

He was my special friend, a man that I could count on, confide in, and learn from. For nine years, as I preached the gospel in Ontario, he and I walked,talked, worshipped, prayed, studied, worked, played, laughed and cried, together. He was such an inspiration and encouragement to me for so long, inso many ways, that happy are the memories I shallalways retain of this great man, my friend.

Harold Houchen loved God, the Lord, the Bible, thechurch purchased by the blood of Christ, the Ontariocongregation especially, his brethren individually andcollectively, faithful gospel preachers, his family, hisneighbors, his city, his country, his fellowman, his life,and indeed, he loved life itself. He gave so much, for solong, to so many. He gave his life, himself, his all, inservice to others as he served the Lord. We take comfort in our pleasant memories of such a beautifullife, in how fortunate we are to have known and lovedhim, and in our faith and his faith in the Word of God.

I believe that in the sight of both God and men, hewas truly a great man, who "being dead yet speaketh."I shall miss him very much, even as shall his familyand friends, but paraphrasing the words of a song sungby the congregation at his memorial service, because ofhim we "Count Our Many Blessings," and look forward to a glad reunion, in that great day, withHarold F. Houchen, a great man.

For a number of centuries, the church of Rome hasbeen gradually developing the worship (cultus) ofMary, the mother of Jesus. By the year 1913, the firstuse of the word "Coredemptrix" was used in a papal encyclical, Sunt Quos Amo, wherein the faithful Roman Catholics were instructed to include the name of Mary with that of her Son in their prayers.

In 1891, pope Leo XIII referred to Mary as a"Mediatrix", that is, a female mediator, even thoughHoly Scripture stipulates "For there is one God, andone mediator also between God and men, the manChrist Jewus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

Perhaps the earliest effort toward elevating Mary toa position of deity, occurred in the early centuries whenthe Douay-Rheims Version of Genesis 3:15, read: "Iwill put enmities between thee and the woman, and thyseed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thoushalt lie in wait for her heel." (Underscoring mine.L.W.M.) This use of the feminine pronouns, was firstintroduced by Jerome's Latin Vulgate in the late 4th century. There is NO textual basis whatsoever, forinserting the female pronouns in Gen. 3:15, yet thisis exactly what Rome has tried to palm off on theWorld.

The Masoretic Text of Gen. 3:15, according to theJewish Publication Society of America, reads "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, andbetween thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thyhead, and thou shalt bruise their heel." Notice that theJews tend to minimize this as being a prophecy ofthe coming Messiah, Christ, by removing the masculine pronouns, and rendering it is neuter, plural, i.e. they, their.

Bagster's English Translation of the SeptuagintVersion, reads: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, heshall watch against thy head, and thou shalt watchagainst his heel." Notice that this is singular and masculine, i.e., he, his.

Kittel's Biblia Hebraica, gives no textual variantthat would allow the change from "he" to "she" or "his" to "her". Also, from the standpoint of the context, it was a promise to Eve, that her masculine seed (Christ) would conquer and overcome Satan. Thefirst man, by which sin came into the race of man, was Adam, while the "last Adam" was Christ,who brought salvation and eternal life to the race of man.

Let us check several other translations of the passage under study:

King James II Version

". . . . He will bruise your head, and you shall bruiseHis heel."

New American Standard

". . .. He shall bruise you on the head, and you shallbruise him on the heel."

Ferrar Fenton Translation

". . . . He shall wound your head, and you shallwound His heel."

New American Bible (Catholic)

". . . . He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel." Note: This modern Catholic Version departsfrom the erroneous Douay-Rheims rendering.

Revised Standard Version

".. . . He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruisehis heel."

American Standard Version

".... He shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruisehis heel."

Conclusion

The Catholic Council known as Vatican II, embracedall the erroneous terms and expressions that tend toraise Mary to position of Deity. For evidence of thisCatholic duplicity, I suggest that you read,"Documents of Vatican II", Edited by Walter Abbott,and published by Geoffrey Chapman, in London, 1967.

WHEN YOU MOVE—Please allow two months for change of address notices. We have a cut-off date for changes each month. Thanks for your help.

Send all News Items to: Wilson Adams, 6334 Auburn Ace., Riverdale, MD 20737

FIELD REPORTS are willing and ready to go to work and are in a situation whichALAN BAILEY, 301 Huntington St., Huntington Beach, CA promises to be fruitful. The institutional church in St. Joseph has92648. My family and I have, after much prayer, decided to move tobeen practically taken over by a very liberal preacher that leans

work with the sound church in St. Joseph, Missouri. This toward Pentecostalism. Because of this, several have withdrawn congregation has been searching for a preacher for some time. They themselves from that congregation and have placed their mem

bership with the sound church Perhaps you can see the need forsome good sound teaching there At this time the church will onlybe able to provide me with $800 per month I will be needing anextra $1,200 of outside support I ask that you give this some veryserious consideration Please feel free to contact the elders where I am presently preaching Ron Stewart at (714) 847 6796, or GeorgeWright at (714) 848-0473 Also feel free to contact Ron Goforth inSt Joseph at (816) 279-7552

GARRETH L. CLAIR, 729 E. Harmony Ave , Mesa, AZ 85204 The Southeast church had its beginning January 8th, 1978 at 711Santa Ana in Mesa, Arizona From the time the congregationbegan we have been renting quarters in four different locationsNow we are meeting in our own facility located at 312 N. Keith in Mesa We have purchased three lots with an adequatestructure on the property for the congregation at the present Weencourage all who are visiting or who plan to move to the greaterPhoenix area to visit us You will always be welcome Also pleasenote my new mailing address as given above Phone (602) 834-7483Our meeting work this year has seen eight baptisms and one restored to faithfulness

JAMES L FINNEY, 1935 Pima Dr , Colorado Springs CO 80915We left here for meetings in the south and east, July 25th The firstwas with the Central church in Charlotte, Tennessee Bro David Holder preaches for them and the average attendance was about 85Next we went to Fair Lawn, New Jersey and preached there on Sunday, August 8th We had worked with them for over 22 yearsuntil moving to Colorado in February of 1981 On Wednesdayevening we began in Brooklyn, New York and preached through Sunday (August 11 15) Bro. Sam Turrentine works with thiscongregation which started about three years ago The averageattendance in this meeting was about 21 They are showing growthand may have a chance to purchase the building in which theypresently meet From here we went to Vauxhall, New Jersey(August 15-18) to help in a new work where Bro Harry Persaud isnow preaching They had three baptisms recently This work wasstarted about three years ago The attendance averaged about 29here The last meeting was in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (August 1922) The attendance averaged about 22. Bro. Jon Drobner ispreaching here and this is a new work. This looks promising along with the rest of these in the general New York area. It was good tosee brethren again with whom we had labored so long.

J. C. MOORE, Rt 1, Box 126, Hermansville, MS 39086. This is to inform the readers of STS that the church no longer meets in PortGibson, Mississippi. We are now driving to Vicksburg, a distance of30 miles, to help with a new work. We meet at 3040 Halls Ferry Rdin Vicksburg. We have just bought and converted a residence into ameeting place. Bro Ed Brand is the preacher.

J. T. SMITH, 14250 N. Miami Ave , Miami, FL 33168 Many of you will recall the material I had in STS on the subject of Premillennialism Since it appeared in the paper, I have had itprinted (just as it appeared, including the charts) into a 24 pagebooklet It may be ordered from Religious Supply for $25 perhundred I believe it is material that can be understood and used byall

WORK IN ARGENTINA CARLOS CAPELLI, Casilla 83—1665 Jose C Paz, Bs As, Argentina The word is preached and souls are saved in Boulogne1 Another three precious souls were added to the body of Christ inthis city All of them were members of the Pentecostal church, afalse church begun in 1890 in the U. S., but now they are ChristiansThis makes five Christians in Boulogne They have rented a small room and have begun to assemble However these brethren arevery poor and are in need of chairs, Bibles, song books, tracts, etcCan you help? I have recently lost $250 per month support and amin need of making this up as soon as possible Please let me hearfrom you Thank you for your fellowship, love, and confidence in us

FERNANDO VENEGAS, Casilla 3/8 122 C C , 5500 Mendoza,Argentina Recently I was in three meetings in the following placesQuiliota, Chile (August 2 8), Santiago, Chile (August 11 15), andQuilpue, Chile (August 13 15) I considered all the meetings a success with many non-Christians in attendance At Quilota we setan attendance record with 65 present each night However, muchmore important was the conversion of nine precious souls to theLord Please pray for us as we labor here in South America

NEW CONGREGATION BRANDON, FL—Due to the tremendous growth in the Brandonarea, which is 12 miles east of Tampa, and with the blessings of the Brandon elders, a new congregation began meeting on the firstSunday in March, 1981 The church is identified as the East Brandon church of Christ and is meeting in the Bloomingdale CivicCenter, at the corner of Lithia-Pinecrest and Bloomingdale in Brandon During the past eighteen months the newly formed church hasmade great strides The first gospel meeting was held by Ken Weliever from Palmetto, Florida. Many non-Christians attended themeeting in which there were crowds over 100 More recently anothermeeting was conducted with Charles Goodall A few months age 2lA acres of land was purchased as a possible site for a meeting placeAt this writing construction of the building is half completed Thenew building should be ready for services by the first of DecemberThe new location will be at the intersection of Miller and Ray Roadwhich is south of Route 60 We have one need in which brethren might be able to assist, and that is church pews which are in goodcondition If any church has some pews that they need to dispose of,please contact Roy Weliever, at (813) 689-5112, or S. D. Hunt at689-1157 The future looks bright for this congregation Attendancehas grown from 55 to 85 during the past few months CharlesBrackett is preaching part time for us Our services are as followsSunday Bible Study, 9 30 a. m. Worship 10 30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.Please worship with us when in the Tampa Bay area

DEBATE STEVE DIAZ, Rt. 1, Box 1210, Leesburg, FL 32748. There is adebate scheduled for January 10 and 11, 1983 at the Fine Artsauditorium of Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg,Florida I will be debating Marlin Kilpatrick on the question ofwhether or not it is scriptural for churches to support orphan homes(such as the one at Mt Dora) Because of the closeness to the MtDora orphan home (20 miles away) and the number of institutionalchurches in the area, we anticipate a good opportunity to teach thetruth on this subject For further information, write the MichiganAve., church of Christ at P. O. Box 2207, Leesburg, FL 32748. Orphone (904) 728-0715

PREACHER NEEDED PARIS, KY—The Main St church of Christ in Pans, Kentucky isjust slightly over six years old. We are looking for a full timeevangelist as of January 1. Partial support can be provided, but some outside support will have to be raised. For further information, contact Don Bishop at (606) 987-1273, or James Sizemore at 234-9432.

PREACHERS AVAILABLE PHILLIP BROWN, 3775 Parthema Ave , Louisville, KY 40215 I am 30 years old, married but with no children. I have beenpreaching part time for the past few years and am now working with Gene Frost and the Birchwood Ave church in Louisville. I desire to devote my life to preaching the gospel. Please give me a call at (502) 361-3038

FRANK INGRAM, 5511 Bruns Dr., Louisville, KY 40216 Afterfive years of a most enjoyable work and relationship with both theelders and the congregation at Gardiner Lane in Louisville I am insearch of another work If interested, you may write me at theabove address or call (502) 448 9458 You may also reach one of theelders Bob Harbison by calling 969 3869 in the evening

IN THE NEWS THIS MONTH BAPTISMS RESTORATIONS (Taken from bulletins and papers received by the editor)

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