Volume XXXIII October 1992 Number 10

By Whose Authority?

"And when he was come into the temple, the chiefpriests and the elders of the people came unto him ashe was teaching, and said, By what authority doestthou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"(Matt. 21: 23).

God possesses inherent authority by right of creation, and that all power in heaven and earth flowsfrom Him. Jesus himself said that all authority hadbeen given unto him; therefore, he possesses thedelegated authority from the Father. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority — ASV) is given unto me in heaven and in earth"(Matt. 28: 18). He said it is given unto him; somebody gave him the power. It would follow that he did nothave all power until it was given unto him. We aretalking about a power that rules supreme in thisdispensation, and Jesus said this power was givenunto him. It would follow that anything in this agemust be authorized by Jesus Christ in order for thatauthority to be divine.

In John 12: 48-50 Jesus speaks of this power:"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father whichsent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I knowthat his command-ment is life everlasting:whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father saidunto me, so I speak. "

On the first Pentecost following the ascension ofJesus, Peter made the following statement assertingthe power of Christ: "Therefore let all the house ofIsrael know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both lord and Christ" (Acts 2: 36).

Paul wrote to the Ephesians of the blessings fromGod though Christ that were in accord with His eternal purpose and power, and said, "Which he wrought inChrist, when he raised him from the dead, and set himat his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,and every name that is named, not only in this world,but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head overall things to the church, Which is his body, the fullnessof him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1: 20-23).

Christ sat down at the right hand of God after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Heb. 10: 12). Hisauthority began when he was raised from the dead and sat down at the right hand of God. "Who is gone intoheaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him"(1 Pet. 3: 22).

It will be noted that Jesus received ALL authority,that all principalities and power have been madesubject to him, and that the Father speaks to us todaythrough His Son (Heb. 1: 1, 2). He has all authorityuntil the end of time: "Then cometh the end, when heshall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and allauthority and power. For he must reign, till he hathput all enemies under his feet. The last enemy thatshall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all thingsunder his feet. But when he saith, all things are putunder him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall besubdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself besubject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15: 24-28).

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in thename of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Col. 3: 17). We are directed to act by theauthority of Christ in all that we do and say. To speakby the authority of Christ is to speak by the authority of God, from whom all authority emanates. To speak byany other authority is to deny the authority of Christ.

The Veneration of Mary

Somehow the word got out that Mary was to put in anappearance at a Catholic church building in Cold Springin northern Kentucky around midnight on August 31.As might be expected a large number of people gathered, some from distant places, to witness this event. The media gave it wide coverage. A professor from a Catholicschool said it was his "opinion" that Mary did appear tothe "pastor" of that church and thought that this placemight become a shrine. Another party said she sawMary in a pine tree. One woman said she had alreadyhad a miracle - her silver colored rosary beads turned togold.

What is behind all this excitement? Numerous claims have been made over the years that Mary has appearedin unlikely places. At Conyers, Georgia a woman claimedthat Mary appeared now and then to her on her computer screen. Busloads of pilgrims have been there. Wehave all heard of Fatima and Lourdes. Many miracleshave been claimed at these spots. Entrepreneurs haveseized the moment to hustle all the traffic would bear. At Cold Spring, before the day was over, T shirts werebeing stamped and marketed.

But all of this grows out of ignorance of the Bibleand what it teaches about Mary. Superstition thrives on ignorance. The Bible teaches that Mary was a devout young Jewish woman who was favored by God when she was allowed to be the mother of Jesus our Lord. Isaiah had prophesied that "a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and thou shalt call his name Immanuel" (Isa. 7: 14). Mary was that virgin. An angelof God appeared to tell her "Hail, thou that art highlyfavoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongwomen" (Lk. 1: 28). Then she was told "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of theHighest shall overshadow thee: There-fore also that holything which shall be born of thee shall be called the Sonof God" (v. 35).

Mary was a virgin at the time of conception andremained so until after the birth of Jesus. "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord hadbidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and hecalled his name Jesus" (Mt. 1: 24-25). But she was not aperpetual virgin as Catholic dogma insists. The expression "knew her not" means they had no fleshly relations"till she had brought forth her firstborn son. " The implication of that is clear. He did not "know her" untilafter Jesus was born. Did he "know her" after that? Yes,indeed. Jesus not only had a mother, he also hadbrothers.

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his motherand his brethren stood without, desiring to speak withhim" (Mt. 12: 46). When he came to Nazareth the peoplewho knew him there said "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren,James, and Joses, and Simon and Judas?" (Mt. 13: 55).In Mark 6: 3 his brothers are named again and it is added that he had sisters.

That Mary was a devout, God-fearing woman westoutly believe. That she was a virgin at the time ofconception we also confidently believe. But to teach thatshe remained a virgin is to flatly dispute what the Bible clearly states. The doctrine of the perpetual virginity ofMary is false. "Marriage is honorable in all and the bedundefiled" (Heb. 13: 4). That was true for Joseph and Mary as for others. Mary was never intended to be theobject of veneration. She was not declared in Scripture to be a mediator or intercessor for God's people. There isnot a trace of a hint in the word of God that prayers wereever addressed to her so that she might "pray for ussinners. " "There is one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2: 5). Jesus taught hisdisciples "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in myname, he will give it you" (Jno. 16: 23). In fact, the wholenotion of dead saints interceding for the living is foreignto the Bible.

Christians constitute a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2: 9)and we have every right to "come boldly unto the throneof grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace tohelp in time of need" (Heb. 4; 16). Every Christian is a priest unto God and may "offer up spiritual sacrifices,acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2: 5). We haveonly one high priest, Jesus Christ. "Which hope we haveas an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither theforerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an highpriest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb.

6: 19-20).

For centuries the Roman Catholic church has required superstitious relics to keep the ignorant deceived. I have witnessed at St. Peter's in Rome a longline of pilgrims waiting their turn to kneel and kiss thefoot of a metal statue seated in a chair which purportsto be a statue of Peter. The truth is, it was originally a statue of the Greek god Jupiter which was taken in oneof the crusades and brought to Rome and given a newidentity. The foot which these pilgrims kiss is actuallythe third one welded to that leg, the first two havingbeen missed so many times they were worn away. There are two Catholic churches in Rome each claiming tohave as a relic the skeletal head of John the Baptist.Two-headed, was he? Near Rome is the Church of the Three Fountains where it is claimed Paul was executed. The legend goes that when his head was severed fromhis body at the executioner's block that it bounced three times and that each time it struck the ground a fountainburst forth. They have an abbey there and a church building is constructed so that the altar is near the spotof these three fountains. Near the catacombs is a small church building with a velvet rope around a plastercaste of what is claimed to be the footprint of Peterpreserved for centuries in the sand and now given morepermanent form for posterity to see. This is in the "QuoVadis Church. " In the cathedral in Turin there is a vial of cloudy looking substance which purports to be actualmilk from the breast of the virgin Mary. The relic innumerous locations is a splinter from the actual cross ofJesus. One Catholic church building in Rome displaysthe chains of Paul. On and on it goes with legend afterlegend to dazzle the faithful.

The religion of the Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed by the Holy Spirit to inspired men in the firstcentury who spoke that message orally and who write itdown on the pages of Scripture. Divine Providence haspreserved that sacred message for all the world to read. It is an absolute standard by which every doctrine andpractice may be measured. It says the same thing toevery body. We may misunderstand it differently, but ifwe understand it, we will understand it alike. Thatmessage was confirmed by miraculous demonstrationsin the time frame in which it was being revealed andattested by witnesses who told what they saw andheard. 2 Pet. 1: 16-18 and 1 Jno. 1: 1-3 speak to this point.

In spite of all the excitement and expectation on August 31, 1992 in Cold Spring, Kentucky, the onlyappearance was in the imagination of those who willedit so. Of the resurrection of Christ, Paul said "this thing was not done in a corner. " After his resurrection Paul said "After that, he was seen of above five hundredbrethren at once; of whom the greater part remain untothis present, but some are fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15: 6). How different that is from a professor saying that it washis "opinion" that the "pastor of the church" did receivean appearance of the virgin, Mary, or a woman sayingthat she saw her in a pine tree. Frankly, I would not turnaround for the difference in this whole affair and the claim of Oral Roberts that he saw a 900 ft. Jesus who talked with him for several hours and told him to tell his viewers on television to each send him $40 so he could get his troubled "ministry" out of debt. Both of these claims are based on subjective evidence.

Respect Mary for her devout character and rejoice that God so favored her to bear our Lord. Absolutely!But venerate her beyond the role God gave her and address prayers to her and invoke her to "pray for ussinners?" Well, no, we have one mediator to do that for us and through his name we may come before the throneof the Almighty ourselves with our petitions.

A Couple of Thoughts

Below are a couple of short thoughts that are unrelated, yet we include both in this column for yourconsideration.

Sunday Morning

It was Sunday morning. The sun was bright, the aircrisp and the birds were flavoring the morning withtheir songs. I had just walked out the door to head toBible study when I noticed the parking lot was full of cars — cars that were not usually seen until the nexthour. "What is going on?" I thought. "Have we oversleptand missed Bible study altogether?" Then I looked at mywatch and was assured that we had not. "Hmmm... this is strange" I said to myself as I pushed the door to enterthe building.

Standing in the vestibule were not only our "regulars" but many of those who either occasionally or nevercome to Bible study. I overheard one brother say "Wedecided we could do better than we have been doing. " Ispoke to a few and made my way into the auditoriumwhere there were others who had not been in the habit of attending at this hour. A smile came across my face that every one noticed.

My second reaction was one of shame. "How could Iever have thought that they were not interested in whatwe are studying in class?" I thought to myself. "I mustapologize for ever saying that those kind of people willnever change" I whispered to the song leader that day.They did change! They were there!

On how we sang with zeal and enthusiasm just beforewe dismissed to the classes. "This is going to be a greatday" I thought as I watched the children file to theirdifferent rooms. I was standing up ready to teach myclass when Joan awakened me and said it was time to get up, get my shower and take Krista to school.

My Word Processor Doesn't KnowMuch About The Bible

I have a word-processor with a built-in spell checkerthat "sounds off' when something appears on the screen that it doesn't recognize. This can be, and in fact is, helpful when I misspell a word. Yet, it gets to beannoying when it "sounds off' about things it knowsnothing about.

Practically every thing I run through this WP isreligious in nature. I compose all my sermons, classnotes, articles for a local hand-out bulletin as well as articles for this journal on this WP. Every time I give a Bible reference it "sounds off. " At first, I would check thescreen to see what was wrong. But with time, I havelearned to just ignore the "sounding off" when I havecited a Bible reference. I've concluded that my WPdoesn't know anything about the Bible. Oh, don't get mewrong. It recognizes God, Christ, Jehovah and a fewBible characters, like Moses, Peter, Paul and John(oops, its telling me it doesn't know John). But, you see, that's not real Bible knowledge. It is just unfamiliar with any reference I cite.

Sometimes people are like Word-Processors. Theyknow a little about God, Christ and a few Bible characters. Yet, when you begin discussing what the Biblereally says and cite Bible passages, they don't know what you are talking about. And like the WP, that's when they "sound off"—when they don't know what weare talking about.

Now, I can solve the problem with the WP. It has a"user's dictionary" which is where I can teach it thingsit doesn't know. I can put Bible terms there so that it willrecognize them when they come up on the screen. I mustconfess that I haven't put anything in my "user's dictionary" yet, because it takes time. It is a slow process. But,if I ever did, I think my WP would quit "sounding off" somuch.

You see, we can solve the same kind of problem withpeople as well. Each person has some unused capacityto store more information. The answer is to take the Bible, little by little, and feed it into the mind. This iscalled "growing in knowledge" (2 Pet. 3: 17). This alsorequires an open and receptive mind (Acts 17: 11). Whenwe develop a good working knowledge of the Bible, wewill know what we are talking about and consequentlywe will do less "sounding off. "

Guidelines of Justice

An article appeared in Christianity Today a few

years ago which provided some observations onthe subject of capital punishment that enhanced myunder-standing. I jotted down some of the basic pointsand have used these in my teaching; but I've lost the original source, so am not able to give credit to the writer.

We tend to assume that the Old Testament was filled with such vengeance and blood that the ultimate penalty was carried out with little forethought. This article demonstrated that while the death penalty was clearlyauthorized under the law of Moses, as it is also under the authority of Christ, that there was several guidelineswhich served to place restraints on the execution of suchpunishment.

Here are seven such principles:

Proportionality: "... you shall give life for life,eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exodus 21: 23-25).

The punishment was to be proportionate to the offense. One was not to be put to death for knocking someone's tooth out.

Intent: "But if he pushes him suddenly withoutenmity, or throws anything at him without lying inwait, or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwingit at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while hewas not his enemy or seeking his harm, then thecongregation shall judge between the man slayer andthe avenger of blood according to these judgments"(Numbers 35: 22-24).

In such a case of accidental death, even where negligence played a part in the tragedy, the man slayer wasnot to be put to death. He was punished, however, inthat he was compelled to remain in a city of refuge until the death of the current high priest (verse 25).

Due Process: These passages in Numbers 35 imply the right to trial. One had the liberty to flee to a place ofjudicial asylum until his case came up. Six cities ofrefuge were appointed for this purpose (verses 9-15). In the event of such incarceration, one was responsible forhis own upkeep. The government was not liable forsuch. The victim's family was prohibited from takingvengeance until the case was heard.

While the victim's next of kin was to be the avenger of murder, it was not his place to determine guilt.Impartial judges were appointed for this purpose(Deuteronomy 17: 8-13). The "eye for an eye: tooth fora tooth" principle was never addressed to individuals,but to judges duly appointed and recognized.

Individual Responsibility: "The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the childrenbe put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put todeath for his own sin" (Deuteronomy 24: 16).

Under God's law, one was responsible only for hisown actions. There are problematic passages such as thecase of Achan's transgression (Joshua 7). His entirefamily was put to death, though Achan was the one whotransgressed the Lord's command and brought defeat toIsrael. We can only conclude that Achan's sons and daughters were co-conspirators in the concealing of thestolen goods, though this information is not explicitlygiven.

Fairness: "You shall not pervert the judgment ofyour poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from every false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. ForI will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe,for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the wordsof the righteous" (Exodus 23: 6-8).

There was to be equal justice regardless of wealth,status, prestige, or rank. Though a system of servitudewas recognized, the servant was not without rights:"And if a man strikes the eye of his servant, or the eyeof his maidservant, and destroys it, he shall let him gofree for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out hisservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth, he shall lethim go free for the sake of his tooth" (Exodus 21: 26, 27).

Reluctance to Execute: "Say to them: 'As I live, ' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death ofthe wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way andlive. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why shouldyou die, O house of Israel?' (Ezekiel 33: 11).

To some the Old Testament seems bloodthirsty. But actually, the death penalty was applied with greatrestraint. Exceptions were made as in the case of David:"And Nathan said to David, The LORD has put awayyour sin; you shall not die" (2 Samuel 12: 13). Mitigatingcircumstances were considered.

Certainty of Guilt: "Whoever is worthy of deathshall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness" (Deuteronomy 17: 6). Those witnessed were to then participate in the execution.Such would generally give one pause to consider thegravity of the issue at hand!

Also, if one testified falsely to pervert justice and havean innocent person put to death, and this was discovered, then: "you shall do to him as he thought to havedone to his brother; so you shall put away the evil personfrom among you. And those who remain shall hear andfear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evilamong you" (Exodus 19; 19, 20).

That passage, by the way, should settle the questionfor Bible believers as to whether capital punishmentserves as a deterrent to crime. God said it does.

I believe that government has the right, and has too often failed to exercise the right, to require life for life.But these principles should serve to emphasize thatsuch is an awesome responsibility and should be approached only with the utmost care and procedure.

Pitfalls of the Preacher's Study

Since the miraculous gift of knowledge has been doneaway (1 Cor. 13: 8), preachers have to acquire knowledge by study (2 Tim. 2: 15).

A preacher has to study somewhere (1 Tim. 4: 13).Some preachers may be able to study anywhere. Othersneed an environment that is conducive to study andmeditation, which may also vary from one preacher toanother. Some are not in a position to be choosy, andhave to do the best that they can with what they have.

Some preachers with families simply do not have theroom to study at home or conditions are not conduciveto concentration. The church building may provide a place for study, but it can be next door or across town.

The preacher's study may come in all shapes andsizes. They run the gamut from suites fit for corporate executives to damp dungeons stuck in some underground corridor. One preacher I knew built his study a Sabbath day's journey from the house, framed it out ofrough sawmill lumber, and positioned it on stilts to fitthe hillside. The floor plan was so cramped that one person had to enter, close the door, then move out of the way so the next person could enter. But, it was his study,and he was proud of it.

But I'm more concerned about what goes on in studies than I am about the architecture or the geographical location of said study. Some preachers,elders, and brethren may appreciate what I have to say.A few may not. And, while I would neither desire norattempt to formulate guidelines to cover the situation,there are some things worthy of our consideration.

Sometimes the preacher's study takes on the role ofan office, or it may serve a dual purpose. I have no objection to the nomenclature, but different people havedifferent concepts of what an office is or isn't.

Once a preacher is settled in a regular office withregular hours, he can expect the professional bums tostart calling. (They have been calling all the time, but noone was there to greet them. ) These highway hoboes, either local or transient, will rob the preacher of precious time as well as anything else they can get.

Then, there are the telephone solicitors. They want tosell the church something, are making a survey, or somecivic or social club wants something for nothing. Evenwhen I go to the building for an hour to put my lesson onthe board, the phone will ring. It must ring dozens oftimes when I am not there (my study is in my home).

There are members of the local congregation whothink that just because the preacher is at the buildingthat they need to call him for something, no matter howtrivial. Some call or stop by just for a social chat, or havesome foolish question to ask. You almost have to be rudeto get these folks off the line so you can get back tostudying.

Sometimes the preacher's study or office turnsinto something akin to the popular confession booth peculiar to the Catholic church. A sister comes by toseek coun-seling or pour out her troubles, and thepreacher tries his best to console or counsel, as theoccasion requires. The motives of both may be as pureas snow, but one thing leads to another until both are intoo deep to avoid temptation.

I would not for a minute impugn the motives of mysisters or fellow preachers, but I personally know ofsome illicit affairs which had their origin or consummation in the church office or study. Maybe the incidentbegan elsewhere, but the secluded "study" provided aconvenient place for the temptation to turn to enticement and that which follows.

Yes, some people will abuse anything, and if they are determined to sin, they will find a way to do it. But I am not talking about hardened, willful sinners. I'm talking about recognizing a situation which may contribute tounintentional sin and its resultant reproach, and theremoval of those ingredients which may lead to such.

Another pitfall of the preacher's study, and possibly more demanding of our attention because ofits preva-lence, is using the study to turn the preacher into a "pastor" by proxy.

We are aware that some preachers fill a dual role asboth elder and preacher, but I would think these arrangements are in the minority. Some elders simplywant the preacher to do their work of overseeing theflock and taking the pressure off of the elders, and somepreachers may love to have it so. Other preachers tell methat they don't like the arrangement, but don't know how to get out of it gracefully.

If preachers are going to be of any value to the worldor to the church, it will be as a preacher doing "the workof an evangelist" (2 Tim. 4: 5). The preacher can takemore pressure off of elders by doing the work assigned to him by the Holy Spirit, than by trying to do the workof the elders. And, elders can take the pressure off of the preacher by being elders, and thus leaving the preacherfree to do what he is supposed to do, and best suited todo.

As an evangelist, I want to share my knowledge withanyone who can use it, and I want them to feel that theycan call on me twenty-fours a day, seven days a weekwhen they need me. I will make arrangements to get my needed rest and relaxation as occasion requires.

As an evangelist, I have helped and encouragedelders in their duties, and have stood in front of them,beside them, and behind them as they endeavored todischarge those duties. Not a few will testify to this fact.

But I am not going to sacrifice my opportunities,responsibilities, and privileges to study the word of myGod, even if I have to stay out of the "study" to do it.

"Unity In Diversity" Puts OnA New Dress

The old denominational idea of "unity in diversity"has put on a new dress and come to town. Some brethrenare taking up with the idea not recognizing it for whatit is. Or, do they know?

Denominational Concept

Paul said, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that byrevelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as Iwrote afore in few words; Whereby, when ye read, yemay understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (Eph. 3: 3-4). "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5: 17). Fromthese verses one learns that to read the writings of the apostles of Jesus Christ, the will of God can be understood. Paul and the other apostles wrote what wasrevealed to them (2 Peter 1: 16-21; 1 Cor. 15: 3).

However, the denominational world has said we cannot understand the Bible alike. You see it one way, I see itanother way, and still someone else sees it a differentway to the two of us. While we all disagree about whatthe Bible says, divided, we are agreed, united, that weare all headed to the same place. There are just different roads to the same place, heaven.

If the denominational world should look into the Bible, they say the one God, Christ, Spirit and hope ofEph. 4: 4-6 we agree on, thus these are essential. However, the one body, baptism and faith of Eph. 4: 4-6 wedo not agree on, thus these are essential. Just who hasset the standard of how to determine what God has said is essential and non-essential I have never known. Denominationalism says all churches are just branchesof the One Vine. All denominations make up the onetrue Church of Christ. Thus, denominationalism pictures for us organic division (different churches) yetspiritual union (all churches headed to the same place).All of this is the concept of "unity in diversity" or unityin division.

Such is a contradiction of terms. "Unity in diversity"makes as much sense as a square circle, a hot snow ball,liquid ice, or dry water. Any time people talk 'unity in diversity5 they are talking COMPROMISE OFTHE TRUTH.

Christian Church

When brethren departed from the faith and went outto form the Christian Church and introduced the missionary society in 1849 and the instrument of music in1859, one of the things that followed was their wantingto be united while separated or divided from their brethren. The attitude was if you will not worship withus using the instrument, then worship elsewhere, butdon't condemn us for using the instrument. We can bedivided, worship in different congregations, yet be unitedby your not condemning us for our innovations. Call itwhat you will, their concept was "unity in diversity. "The Christian Church people wanted to be united evenwith differences between us. Meetings were conductedto try and have unity with us. Have brethren forgottenthe Murch-Witty meetings? All of the talk about unitywas in reality talk about how they could be united withus through a compromise of the gospel. They wantederror to go unopposed. We can be united if you will notsay anything about our innovations.

Institutionalism

When brethren began the practice of the "sponsoringchurch" and church support of human benevolent and educational institutions, their plea was for a "unity indiversity" of a sort. Their plea was you preach the gospelthe way you see best. You care for orphans the way you see best. Let us do the same and we will all be one bighappy, united family. Their plea was for a "unity indiversity" which amounted to a compromise of thegospel. There were those of us who would not agree totheir compromise and preached, wrote and debatedagainst their departures from the pattern set forthwithin the Scriptures. Just like those who introducedthe instrument without scriptural authority were responsible for the division in the church, so these whointroduced the "sponsoring churches" and church support of human benevolent and educational institutionsare today responsible for the division that followed.

Ed Fudge

Following the teaching of Leroy Garrett and CarlKetcherside a few years ago, Ed Fudge began to followthem into digression and today has left the Lord'schurch and is out there in the sea of denominationalism. When they started their journey the only thing that wasimportant was gospel which they defined as believingChrist was born, lived, died, rose, was seen, ascendedand was crowned. Anyone who believed this, regardlessof anything else, they perceived to be in fellowship orunited with them. On doctrinal matters like the instrument, Premillennialism, institutionalism, etc. thesethey said did not stand in the way of unity. So regardlessof what you believed about these matters they would be

united in diversity with you. They were bit with the"unity in diversity" but and when that bug got through chewing on them, the virgin birth was no big deal tosome of them, others were "witnessing for Christ" on thetopless beaches of the world, and all at once there wasno hell! They started out trying to justify their positionby a misapplication of Romans 14. They finished up along way from Romans 14 or any other Bible passage."Unity in Diversity's" New Dress

With brethren being exposed to "unity in diversity" asadvocated by the denominational world through theyears, with essentially the same arguments being madeby the Christian Church folk, then the institutionalbrethren singing the same tune, and seeing the havocsuch brought to the church when promoted by Ed Fudgeand company, one would think God's people would be sowell acquainted with this error that we would reject itas soon as it would raise its head again. Not so!

This error has put on a new dress and come to townand a lot of brethren do not see it for what it really is. Itis the same old denominational attitude of compromise.Denying it will not change the facts.

Within the last couple of years the beloved brother Homer Hailey brought out his most recent book, The Divorced and Remarried Who Would Come To God in which he advocated that the alien sinner was not under the law of Christ in regard to marriage, divorceand remarriage. Therefore, one who is not a Christianmay marry, divorce and remarry as many times as hechooses. When he comes to Christ in gospel obedience,the one to whom he is then married is the one to whom he may stay married. We are told the teaching of Jesusin Matt. 19: 1-9 does not apply to the alien sinner, just tothe Christian. This is not a new doctrine among brethren. Essentially the same thing was taught 35 years agoby a man in the Fort Worth, Texas, area by the name of

E. C. Fuqua. However, for the most part it was rejectedby brethren back then.

Before brother Hailey's book came out, he hadpub-licly spoken his views and written them in someof the papers. Several brethren took the time to review what he had said and answer it.

The New Testament has somewhat to say about howto deal with those teaching contrary to the doctrine ofChrist. Paul said, "These things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for yoursakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffedup for one against another" (1 Cor. 4: 6). "Whosoevertransgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come anyunto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him notinto your house, neither bid him God speed: For he thatbiddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds: (2John 9-11).

Yet, in view of this plain teaching, the biographerof brother Hailey, brother Ed Harrell wrote a long series of articles in his paper, Christianity Magazine, in which he says he does not agree withthe teaching of brother Hailey. However, he is not willing to call him a

false teacher and thinks brethren should continue to extend the right hand of fellowship to him and otherswho believe and teach the same thing. Thus, on thequestion of morals one brother can believe and/or peachone thing and another brother can believe and/or preachanother and we are told both should be in fellowshipwith each other. Upon what basis is this defended?Upon the same basis all the other groups mentioned inthis article defend their "unity in diversity" — Romans

14.

Jesus plainly said, "Whosoever shall put away hiswife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19: 9).Jesus said "whosoever, " He did not say "a Christian." Adultery does not fit the context of Romans 14 andcannot be defended by this chapter.

Romans 14 deals with matters that do not in and of themselves affect the salvation of the soul — eatingmeats or herbs (v. 1-3) and how one regards a day (v. 5).God received both those who ate meats and those who did not, and those who regarded one day above another and those that did not (v. 3, 15: 7). Each man was to do what he was "fully persuaded in his own mind" (v. 5). Ifa man is "fully persuaded in his own mind" that adulteryis fine, does that make it so? If a man regards adulteryunto the Lord (v. 6) does that make it acceptable to the Lord? I am surprised that brother Harrell and someother able brethren are making this use of Romans 14.

Another defense that was made of brother Hailey's position was that some of those objecting to it were young men. Does that mean if a young man quotesMark 16: 16 that it should be disregarded because ofhis age? How can a man whose hair Mother Naturehad turned silver and whose grandchildren are nearlyready for high school be called a young man? One ofthe men calling someone a young man is only eightyears older than one of the men he is calling young.

Modern Day Gospel Advocate

For the benefit of a host of my younger fellow gospelpreachers, let me call something to their attention. Backduring the institutional controversy the late brother B.

C. Goodpasture was the editor of the Gospel Advocate. He had a one sided paper—anybody or any articlethat disagreed with the Advocate, brother Goodpasture would not give them space in the Advocate. You either agreed with him or you could forget about getting anything published there.

Of brother Goodpasture's refusing to print both sides of a question, brother Harrell once observed "Goodpasture refused to open the Advocate to opposing articles, judging, he said, that such would not be inthe best interest of the church... He defended his decision to close the Advocate to open discussion.... "(1981 Florida College Annual Lectures, p. 244).

Further, brother Harrell said, when discussing "theEmergence of Denominational Leadership, ""The methodused to spread the message in a young religious movement, including the New Testament church, is openconfrontation. Both in the first century and in morerecent times the spread of the gospel has been marked by open discussion and debate. When one is truth-oriented, he has nothing to defend except his teachingsand he has no tools for fighting except his ideas. When one's religion becomes institutional other forces come into play. Open debate (even limited debate) may nolonger seem wise if it disturbs the peace of the group and threatens the health of institutions" (Ibid., p. 250).

In refusing to print some excellent material on Romans 14 by brother Harry Osborne, material which differed with brother Harrell's position, it appears he issetting Christianity Magazine in the same directionGoodpasture set the Gospel Advocate. I am sorry to see brother Harrell follow the path that Goodpasture did inrefusing to print good material that differed with hisviews, for in time, it will work the same havoc within thechurch that Goodpasture caused. Any paper that doesnot permit an honorable, open investigation and discussion of the Word of God does not deserve the respect andconfidence of brethren. No editor should print a fuss or a dog and cat fight. However, an honorable exchange ofviews on positions or various passages is how we learn.Ideas and views that are challenged and exchanged indiscussion is how we learn. Learning is not re-readingwhat you already know and believe.

Since I believe the Bible tells us WHAT to preach andHOW to preach, I believe gospel preaching is distinctive. There is a difference in a sermon preached by a committed preacher from that which is delivered by a man who is not on fire with the greatest message thatlost and fallen humanity has ever heard. The urgency with which the sermon is delivered tells a lot about the preacher — the fearless approach, the realization of the awesome responsibility he has as a person who is in the"soul saving" business, the boldness and plainness ofspeech which he uses in order to reach the hearts of hishearers, the sincere persuasion he demonstrates as hewarns and exhorts hearers to "save yourselves from thisuntoward (corrupt) generation. "

One of the surest signs of God's people beginning todrift is lack of distinctive preaching. The preaching ofthe truth in love admits NO apology. The preachers ofthe gospel, as shown by the examples we have, refusedto compromise the truth in order to persuade people tobe baptized. From all indications they did not shortentheir sermons to keep some disgruntled members of theaudience from "walking out" on them while they weretrying to help them go to heaven. They never heard suchexpressions as we are hearing, such as "That kind of preaching won't work any more. You are going to be adinosaur. You are just preaching yourself out of a place to preach with your long-winded sermons, and yourspeech is just too hard. " Also, "Do not call names of thepeople or churches of whom you speak. I have a friendvisiting with me and he/she will get offended if you dosuch a thing. " Brethren, I have heard such ridiculousassertions as these from unconverted members of the church of Christ.

I hope the reader will pardon some personal remarksI have to make here. I have been preaching the gospel ofChrist for nearly forty years. As R. L. Whiteside wrotemany years ago, "I was baptized into a fight. " He wasbaptized into a fight against false doctrines of denominationalism without the church! I was baptized into a fight against denominationalism within the church! Havingleft the denomination in which I held membership from age twelve, I understood "the issues" of human institutionalism the first time it was explained to me. It was notthat I was so "smart" that I understood so quickly. It wasthat I had just left that over which my brethren andsisters were dividing the church. From that day, I"unsheathed the SWORD" and have opposed the digression of God's people which has now developed into justanother denomination!

I had suffered the loss of family and former friendswith whom I was associated. That hurt. But the vicious opposition toward me and my preaching by professed Christians, members of the church of Christ, has hurtmuch more. Now, as I am in the process of "windingdown" (not quitting!) my nearly four decades of preaching and teaching the wonderful gospel of my Lord andSavior Jesus Christ, I am saddened by what is happening among us (conservatives, the remnant which I helped to save from apostasy). There are ominous signs Isee as the prelude to another apostasy which may not culminate in my lifetime, but is surely coming! Here are some things that bother me very much:

1. There is a growing indifference among us about spiritual matters. We are living in the latter stages of a half-century of fiscal prosperity financed bydeficit spend- ing by the Federal government. Seculareducation to equip our younger people to make lotsof money has become a real problem. Many membersof the church today know much more about how tomake money that they do about how to make heaven. They often lose interest in things spiritual. Marriagecounselors tell us that money is the main problem indivorce proceedings. The Federal government's irresponsibility in spending far more than it takes inhas become a way of life by Americans. The advent oftelevision has been devastating to our nation and muchof the world. The amount of money the television industry accumulates and controls is beyondcomprehension. This leads to the next item of concern:
2. The control that the secular humanists (atheists) have secured over the news media and thepublic educational process in this nation, is the greatest threat to faith this world has ever faced. Thesecular humanists are determined to eradicate the reality of "the prayer-hearing God" (Preface: HumanistManifesto II, p. 13). In

some public schools here in Middle Tennessee, the heartof the South, students are forbidden to mention GOD inaddresses at the end of the school year. The liberal newsmedia are determined to make a nation of agnostics outof my children and grandchildren, and YOURS. Theyhave gained control of television, newspaper, magazines, in which they promote that "science affirms thatthe human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces (Ibid, p. 17). Further, "We find insufficientevidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural;... No deity will save us; we must save ourselves... Ethicsis autonomous and situational" (Ibid, pp. 16-17).

There it is. These infidels have tried to dethrone God and enthrone man. "Values clarification" in our school systems — at least many — encourage the student todisregard the teaching of loving parents and religiousleaders and set their own standards. All of this devastation of morality and crime-ridden cities by drug abusersis the result of such atheistic garbage. When we heargrown people who are members of the Lord's church saythat "Man is an animal, " it would be interesting to askthem where they got that information since it is a flatdenial of God's revelation!

3. I am gravely concerned at the deterioration of"gospel preachers" who have been seriously affected bythe swift change in society during the past twenty-fiveyears. Much of it is due to the changing demands madeon preachers by elders and/or members in general.Often, when disgruntled members insist on a change inthe preacher because they do not like him or his preaching, even though such people are usually in a minorityof the congregation, elders, or in the case of absence ofelders, the leaders listen to their complaints which are usually trivial — seldom is there an accusation that thepreacher they do not like does not preach the truth—the whole counsel of God! It usually amounts to just theopposite. These people are often as they were in the daysof Isaiah: "This is a rebellious people, lying children,children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which sayto the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy notunto us right things, speak unto us smooth things,prophesy deceits" (Isa. 30: 9, 10).

Although I have debated publicly the "anti-locatedpreacher" brethren three times, affirming the proposition that "it is scriptural for a gospel preacher to locatewith and preach to a church (congregation), " I ampersuaded that their objections to the "system, " as theycall it, are built on abuses of located preachers who will"water down" the message in order to preach for acongregation who makes such demands on preachers inorder to pacify the factions. Why would elders have toget approval of the factions of a preacher whom they areconsidering for the local work. ?

Back during the days of the division over institutionalism, some preachers compromised their convictions (ifindeed they had any) in order to be employed by churcheswho did not want any preacher who might "rock theboat" in which they were enjoying sailing undisturbedon the way to apostasy. I knew preachers when the fight started who knew the truth but compromised and lostentire congregations to apostasy.

For a few moments of time think along with me on thesubject of Baptism Administrator. Who is a properadministrator of baptism? Does the Bible give anyqualifications for one to be an administrator of baptism?Or, as we would normally ask it, "Does the Bible giveany qualifications to baptize?" If so, what are those qualifications?

Denominational Dogma

"In answer to the oft-repeated question, What isBaptism? it may be said, Baptism is the immersion inwater, by a proper administrator (emphasis mine, wvb),of a believer in Christ

By a proper administrator

... is meant a person who has received from a church authority to baptize.. . . it does seem incredible that baptism should be valid in the absence of the church authority referred to. What other authority isthere? Will anyone say, the authority of Christ? The supreme authority is undoubtedly his, but does he conferon men the right to baptize through his churches, or,independently of his churches?" (J. M. Pendleton, BAPTIST Church Manual, pp. 64-65). Before goingon a side trip, it is in order to pay my respects to aportion of Mr. Pendleton's statement. The Lord doesnot have churches (plural)" unless, of course, Mr. Pendleton has reference to local congregations. Jesuspromised to build, as He said, "my church" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is said, by inspiration, to be "head over all things to the church, which is his body the fullness ofhim that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1: 22-23).

The Church of God denomination (headquarters inCleveland, TN) has three different classifications ofones who can baptize. Both the ORDAINED MINISTERand the LICENSED MINISTERS "shall have full rightand authority to:... Baptize converts... " (The 59th General Assembly of the Church of God 1982Minutes, "Supplement to the Minutes, " pp. 95, 96). TheEXHORTER "shall have full right and authority to:... In cases of emergency he may be authorized by the StateOverseer to baptize coverts... " (Ibid., pp. 96, 97). TheLADY MINISTER is "without authority to baptize converts... " (Ibid., p. 97). I would pause just long enough toask for Book, Chapter and Verse for an ORDAINEDMINISTER, LICENSED MINISTER, LADY MINISTER or a "State Overseer. "

"In the absence of an ordained pastor, the elder shall request the president of the conference or local field toarrange for the administration of the rite of baptism tothose desiring to unite with his church" (Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, p. 85).

"Non-Catholics and sinners may validly baptize, forthe validity of the Sacrament does not depend upon thepersonal worthiness or orthodoxy of the minister... " (Bertrand L. Conway, The Question-Box, p. 238). What Saith The Scriptures?

There is, so far as I know from studying the Bible, notone mention of any qualifications necessary for one tobaptize another, or as the denominational writers wouldsay, to be a baptism administrator. If such is to befound, I have missed it. If you know of one, IN THENEW TESTAMENT, please let me know. In all of theexamples it was noted that those doing the baptizingwere men... but even this is not stated as a qualification, only noted as examples. When at all possible menshould do the baptizing, as per the examples. What ifsuch is not possible? Suppose two women were strandedon the proverbial desert island, I would see absolutelynothing wrong if one baptized the other.

There are some principles that need to be consideredwhen looking at this subject. The New Testament issilent regarding a "clergy-laity" distinction. This is, Ibelieve, the real source of misunderstanding about whocan baptize. All Christians are priests (Revelation 1: 6;

5: 10; 1 Peter 2: 5, 9). If we can not talk about it inBible language it is time to leave it alone (1 Peter 4:11). Where do you read, in the New Testament,about "clergy" and/or "laity?"

We need to learn to respect the silence of the scriptures (Hebrews 7: 14). Since there are no qualifications given in the New Testament, how dare we (mankind) presume to speak for God? We could repeat, for emphasis, the "clergy-laity distinction" here. Dear reader, how dare we?

The apostles were commissioned to teach and baptize (Matthew 28: 18-20)... before the church was established (Acts 2). Our authority ("... teaching themto observe all things whatsoever I commanded you..."

— Matthew 18: 20; see also 2 Timothy 2: 2) isfound in the Great Commission and based on their being given this authority.

In the "great persecution against the church" (Acts

8: 2) were only "ordained ministers" persecuted? "They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word" (Acts 8: 4).

Are only "ordained, licensed ministers" and "exhorters" faithful? None would declare such. But we read of "faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2Timothy 2: 2). The command was to MAKE DISCIPLES

— BAPTIZE — TEACH (Matthew 28: 18-20).

Qualifications And Baptism

There are qualifications connected IN THE NEW TESTAMENT with baptism... yes indeed. The qualifications are not concerning the one doing the baptizing(Baptism Administrator)... if there are such where arethey? The qualifications given in the New Testament, concern, the one being baptized. What are these qualifications? What are these prerequisites to Bible Baptism? Bible Baptism requires a taught person (Matthew 28: 19-20) who has come to be a believing individual (Mark 16: 16). One who believes what? Thegospel, the thing taught. For some specifics see Hebrews 11: 6; John 8: 24; and Colossians 2: 12 (Romans 6:4). This taught believing person must also be a penitent individual (Acts 2: 38), who has confessed hisfaith (Mat-thew 10: 32; Acts 8: 37).

If there were qualifications connected with the onedoing the baptizing (even if it were necessary that thatone was a Christian), we could never know if we werescripturally baptized or not. Our faith would have tostand in man ("Was he really a Christian? Was heordained? Is he a proper baptism administrator? Etc. ).As it is, Praise God, our faith stands not in man, but inthe Blessed Son of God, the lamb of Golgotha.

To call one a "backslider" is not the most complimentary thing he could be called. Many folks who are inreality backsliders do not like to be so designated. Theychoose a milder term to describe themselves or another who has lapsed into sin. "Erring" and "out of fellowship" are frequently substituted, for they do not sound soharsh. Webster defines the term "backslider" as "To slide back; to lapse morally or in the practice of religion. "

It means a starter who doesn't finish. It means one who reached a certain plateau and slid down. It meansone who began but did not continue. It means a failure,or at least about to fail. No, it isn't complimentary!

Some will jokingly call themselves back-sliders, butbacksliding is not a laughing matter. It is a serioussituation. The kingdom of Judah in Jeremiah's day is agood illustration. While there are many references in the Old Testament in which God's people are called backsliders, for now consider just Jeremiah 2. Look at some of the figures God uses to depict their condition.

They had been given a good land, but they defiled it(Jer. 2: 6-7). Even their pastors had transgressed, thepriests did not know the Lord, and the prophets prophesied by Baal (v. 8). While nations who worshipped idolswere unknown to change their gods, God's people"changed their glory for that which does not profit" (v.11). In short, they had "forsaken" Him (V. 19). Yes, truly backsliding is a serious thing.

Backsliding results when the heart is not right (Prov.

14: 14). The heart is not fully committed to God and hisways (cf. Mat. 22: 37), and the affections are not properlyfocused (cf. Col. 3: 1-3). The heart is the seat of action(Prov. 4: 23). Thus when the heart is not right, the actionswill reflect it.

Are there any present-day backsliders? There were some in the days of the apostles. Peter spoke of somebecoming "entangled again" in the rudiments of the world (2 Peter 2: 20). Paul called some by name (2 Tim.

4: 10; 2: 16-17), and James said Christians could beguilty of spiritual adultery and become enemies of God (Jas. 4: 4).

We frequently find those who have "quit the Lord, " turned back to the world, and sold their spiritualbirthright. Many never assemble with the saints (Heb.

10: 25), live unbecomingly (Phil. 1: 27), leave their firstlove (Rev. 2: 4), become lukewarm and indifferent (Rev.3; 15-16). In short, they have lapsed in the practice of the religion of Christ. They are backsliders!

How great is the mercy and long-suffering of God! Heappeals to the backslider to return to Him. "Return, yebacksliding children, and I will heal your backslidings"(Jer. 3: 22). "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; forthou hast fallen by thine iniquity.... I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger isturned away from him" (Hos. 4: 1, 4). And again, "OJerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, thatthou mayest be saved.... " (Jer. 4: 14). And in the NewTestament the appeal is, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.. ." (Rev. 2: 5). And even to those backslidden into self-satisfied indifference, the Lord pleads, "Behold, I standat the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him,and he with Me" (Rev. 3: 20).

God's plan makes a way for all people who would besaved; so, dear backsliding brother or sister, He will save you if you will repent and return unto Him. Otherwise you will be lost forever in the devil's hell.

One of my favorites among the Psalms is the 139th. Init David writes: "O Lord, thou hast searched me, andknown me. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mineuprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thoucompassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in mytongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thouhast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand uponme" (Psalm 139: 1-5). To some this might seem veryfrightening, to know that God knows our thoughts and isacquainted with all our ways. But David seems to view itdifferently for he writes in verse 6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. " Oneclear thought of this Psalm is that God knows all there isto know about you and me. Is this frightening? It doesn't have to be, but it is sometimes when we have failed to liveup to what He expects of us.

As David continued, in the next section he tells thatwere ever we go, God is there. Again, this is not intendedto be frightening, but comforting to the one who seeksGod's presence and care. David wrote: "Whither shall I gofrom thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bedin hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of themorning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; eventhere shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shallhold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; eventhe night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hidethnot from thee; but the night shineth as the day: thedarkness and the light are both alike to thee" (Psalm

139: 7-12). Where can I go that God does not see me andcare for me? Can I go into the heavens, off into spacesomewhere and God not be there? NO! Can I go into the grave and God not know about it? NO! If I am in peril inthe sea, does this hide me from God or keep me away fromHis loving care? NO! Can I go into utter darkness and behidden from His view? A THOUSAND TIMES, NO!

In the next few verses David tells of God's blessingsupon him, even before he came into this world. Davidwrote: "For thou hast possessed my reins (formed myinward parts—nkjv): thou hast covered me in my mother'swomb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soulknoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee,when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my memberswere written, which in continuance were fashioned,when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139: 13-16). These are very interesting verses, especially in light ofthe current thinking of so many people that an unbornchild is not really a person, only tissue that a mothermay decide to keep or abandon. But David said that Godformed his inward parts in the womb, and that God sawhim while he was yet unformed and imperfect. Godknew all about him even before he was fully formed inphysical terms. How could this be if the unborn child isnot a living being?

Then comes the final section of this marvelous Psalm. David wrote: "How precious also are thy thoughts untome, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I shouldcount them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee" (v. 17-18). Perhapsif we appreciated God's knowledge of us, His constantpresence in our lives, and His constant provision of uswe too would say, "How precious also are thy thoughtsunto me. " Yet we often act as though God's thoughts, Hisword, is the least important of things when comparedwith TV, magazines, books, sports, etc.

In verses 19-22 David speaks of God's eventual punishment of the wicked, and declares that he too hatesthose who hate God and who rebel against Him.

How many of us would say as David did in verses 23and 24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me,and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wickedway in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. " Goddoes know our hearts, and the evil thoughts that sometimes try to enter there are not hidden from Him. Nowis the time to examine our hearts, and to know if there is any wicked way in us. Now is the time for us to longto be led in the way "everlasting. "

Certainly God will not lead us in the wrong way, butwe don't always follow as closely as we should. Now isthe time to recognize the blessing of having God with us,knowing us and caring for us. Now is the time toexamine our hearts to know what evil is there so that we may remove it. Now is the time to prepare for everlasting life. And "If God be for us, who can be against us?(Romans 8: 31).

Misguided consideration for the oversensitive feelings of the spiritually weak and inept, by sugar-coatingGod's Word to make it more palatable, 'humanizing and modernizing the gospel in order to bring it up-to-date, ' and a reluctance to clearly delineate sin, is but a manifestation of one's own incompetence and lack of love forthe sinner. Far better that these be shown the certaintyof their own damnation in their present wandering pathso that they might come to a complete understanding ofunquestioning acceptance of God's Word, and their need for obedience to it.

If it is possible to prevent it, after a study of the Bible, publicly or privately, no one should ever be permitted togo away thinking he has a choice between two evils andstill be acceptable to God. We must leave no doubt in hisor her mind on where he or she stands as shown by theprecise mirror of God's Word, the Bible, the ONLY thingthat is able to save our souls.

Teaching must be so unmistakably plain that everyone who continues to follow the devil understands that this is his or her own personal choice. He or she must bemade clearly aware of the consequences of this personaldecision.

The gospel must be preached plainly, simply, earnestly, with an open bible and an open heart, and withall the love and ability of which the preacher/teacher iscapable, along with all his force. In 2 Timothy 4: 1-4, the grand apostle Paul wrote it this way: "I charge theetherefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Whoshall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing andHis kingdom: Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsufferingand doctrine. For the time will come when they will notendure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, andshall be turned unto fables. '

To fall short of this, when teaching or living, is todebase yourself, and all those about you, and to blaspheme God.

Send all News Items to: Connie W. Adams, P. O. Box 69, Brooks, KY40109

DONNIE V. RADER — P. O. Box 9, Lexington, AL 35648 — We justfinished a meeting at Northside with Donald Townsley. We had goodattendance every night. Non-Christians from the community attended.We were able to set up at least one home study during the meeting withthe possibility of another. The preaching was true to the book. Donaldis a book, chapter and verse preacher who stands strong against sin and error in every form. One lesson we could learn from this meeting is thatyou don't have to have a softer or "moderate" form of preaching to havegood numbers. Preaching it like they did in the N. T. still works.

MATTHEW KEITH UNDERWOOD

Matthew Underwood, the two-year-old son of Harold and SueUnderwood, died on February 3, 1992 just a month before his third birthday. Matthew was born with severe physical problems and hisshort life on earth had been a tremendous struggle. His doctors wereamazed that he lived as long as he did. David Thomley conducted thefuneral on February 6 at the Hawkins-Brooks Funeral Home in Munfordville, Kentucky, with the burial at Fountain Run Cemetery.Harold Underwood continues to preach for the Green's Chapel churchof Christ. Friends may write to Harold and Sue at the following address:

P. O. Box 698, Munfordville, KY 42765. — David Thomley, Bowling Green, Ky.

NORMAN BROWN, Virginia Beach, VA—There is still a congregation in Virginia Beach. The majority moved out to another location but those of us with a long history in Virginia Beach wanted to continue thework in this city. We now have 40-50 attending almost every Lord's day.We have 20-30 on Wednesday nights for Bible study. We still have thesame goals as most congregations: to teach the gospel, to have scriptural elders and deacons and to have our own place to meet. But it willbe a long hard struggle. We presently worship at the Bow Creek Recreation Center, 3427 Club House Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.Phone 804-486-6245 or 804-486-6639. Mailing address: P. O. Box 8693, Va. Beach, VA 23450.

NORTH FT MYERS CHURCH OF CHRIST, 200 Pine Island Rd.,

N. Ft. Myers, FL 33903 — a letter signed by men of this congregation states that Jimmy Tuten, who has labored with them for the past eightyears is in need of additional support. After economic circumstancescaused the loss of support he was able to bring with him when he camehere, he agreed to work with his hands as a "finish specialist" in homeconstruction. For the past five years he was worked two days a week atthis sometimes working 14 hours a day in order to keep up with bothsecular work and his work with the church. He has maintained a busyschedule of classes, preaching and home studies. The church grewspiritually and numerically. Internal strife erupted and caused lossesof numbers and financial resources which set us back a couple of yearsin our effort to be self-supporting. We need his effort here on a full timebasis and appeal for $500 a month in support to be sent to him. If anycan help or wish additional information, please call him at 813-7724934, Russ Mathews at 813-694-1016 or Richard Combs at 813-5741445.

SPECIAL TRAINING SERIES FOR PREACHERS

The church in Annandale, Virginia announces a second series oflessons to assist the preachers they support in the gospel. This will beconducted Nov. 3-6, 1992 with classes beginning at 9: 30 A. M. with aone hour break for lunch. Also, in connection with this series we will conduct a gospel meeting using five of the men who plan to attend.Others are invited and members at Annandale will offer hospitality toas many as possible. Those who wish to stay with a family there,please contact Derrick Proctor, 4731 Hersand Ct., Dale City, VA 22193 (703-680-3420). Speakers for the series will be Hiram Hutto (Language of the

Bible), F. Chappelear, Dale Smelser and David Brewer (Preaching the Word), Bobby Graham (Pastoral Epistles), Sewell Hall (Problems forPreachers), Ney Rieber (non-verbal Communication), Alan Williamson(Practical Computer Use).

DEBATE NOTICE

J. T. Smith, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Olan Hicks, Searcy, Arkansas will discuss the biblical teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage. Thediscussion will be held in the meeting house of the West End Church, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. The dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 1,and Dec. 3 and 4. Each session begins at 7 P. M. with three alternating twenty minute speeches. The first two nights Olan Hicks will affirm:"The Scriptures teach that all divorced people, including those whoseformer mates are still living, may, with God's approval, enter andmaintain a marriage with another person. " The last two nights, J. T.Smith will affirm: "The Scriptures teach that only those persons whohave divorced their mates for fornication and those whose mates have died, may, with God's approval, enter and maintain a marriage withanother person. " For further information call 502-842-7880 or 502-7814947.

BARRY M. PENNINGTON — The church at Huntsville, Texas has asked me to "come over into Macedonia" to strengthen them. They haveabout 25 in attendance and a small weekly contribution. Many of theformer members have moved away. They are able to supply about $250per week in support. Huntsville is the home of Sam Houston StateUniversity and there are about 30, 000 in this area. The Southside church has had good times and bad and has stood for the truth over theyears. They need help and I need help to devote full time to the work. You may contact the elders of the Woodlands, Texas church where Ihave been preaching for information about me. They are; Dennis Bray(713-367-1235) and Rod McCasland (713-367-9833). Also for referenceyou may contact Oliver Murray (713-460-1429) or Ardie Brown (214221-5777).

PATRICK L. KELLY, P. O. Box 822, Portland, ME 04104 — Our Sunday morning attendance averages 19 and our contributions averages $212 a week. I am working here with inadequate support (shortwith $1, 000 a month) but am determined to preach the gospel in thisneeded place. I conducted my first meeting at LaVista, Nebraska and also spoke in Sioux City, Iowa Mike Divis from La Vista returned toMaine with me for the funeral of Marcus Dixon, one of our members and Mike has seen first-hand our situation and needs here.

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FROM AROUND THE WORLD KENYA, EAST AFRICA — Paul Ayres and Allan Turner spent sixweeks in July and August preaching in Kenya, East Africa. Theytraveled about 2, 000 miles in the country, witnessed the baptism of 45(including seven denomination preachers) and saw churches established in six different areas. As far as is known, this is the first sucheffort there by non-institutional brethren. The door in East Africaseems to be standing wide open at the moment.

INDIA—On September 21 John Humphries left for his 16th preaching and teaching trip to India. Untold good has been accomplished by theseefforts and others who have at various times accompanied him.

PUERTO RICO — Ray Madrigal, 165 Hillington Dr., Paducah, KY 42001, reports he spent two weeks in July, 1992 preaching in PuertoRico. Although 90% of the people of this mountainous island claim to beCatholic, several Pentecostal groups have been active there in recent years. Since the mid-1950's, over 30 churches of Christ have beenestablished with 40-50 members average. Institutionalism and thesocial gospel are present almost everywhere due to the influence ofDeWayne Shappley and his "Prenza La Paz" publishing house inBayamon. Brethren with whom Ray studied were hungry for teaching,especially on the subject of Bible authority. The church in Dorado hasbeen resisting the errors of liberalism and teaching sound doctrinesince 1979. Due to the preaching of Ramon Vargas and Herminio Isern,this church is growing in grace and knowledge. Both men support themselves as they labor for the Lord. On one Saturday afternoonbrethren from all over the island came to the home of Ismael Rosario (in Aibonito) to study, sing and pray together. A lesson was taught on"Authority" which dealt with sponsoring churches and church support of various institutions. Several were present from institutional churchesand listened intently and manifested a good spirit. Ray said "Whilebrethren and churches rightly respond to the unprecedented opportunities in East Europe, let us not forget our Latin-American neighborswho are also receptive and hungry for the truth.

LITHUANIA—Steve Wallace from Germany reports on efforts whichhe, Derek Chambers, Kieran Murphy and Harry Osborne made inVilnius, Lithuania. This was a follow-up effort to what had been doneearlier there by Wallace and Chambers. Much material was preparedin both Russian and Lithuanian. Their collective work lasted six weeks. They set up tables on the "municipality Square" each day but Sundayand spent 3 to 4 hours daily at this task. They gave away much materialand had many Bible discussions. They also distributed announcementsabout their Sunday Bible lectures. On Sundays they had a lectureperiod form 1 to 5 P. M. Two lectures were give through an interpreter,each followed by a question and answer session., Private studies grew out of this. The results of these efforts were: (1) over 15, 000 tracts weregiven away; (2) there were many public Bible discussions on the square;

(3) organized studies of greater length were conducted with a goodnumber of people; (4) many heard the gospel appeal for the first time; (5) many contacts made for future studies; (6) it was confirmed thatbalanced preaching (including the negative with the positive) does not drive people away; (6) it was learned that much can be done there fora fraction of the cost for the western world; (8) a number of needed studymaterials are now in process of being printed in Russian (9) the stay wasnot long enough. There is a need for long term workers to come and workthis field. A longer effort is planned for this fall.

PHILIPPINES—KENNETH MARRS, P. O. 453. PINOLE, CA 94564 reports on a trip in March and April, 1992 with his son Kennyto the northeast province of Cagayan on Luzon. They worked outfrom Tugergarao visiting congregations in the surrounding areas,conducted "home yard meetings" at night, preached on the radio, had a class for song leaders and held many informal discussions. Thirty-six were baptized during this time. The abject poverty of manypeople among brethren was seen often. Brother Marrs plans to goagain next January and February for a month for preacher training and teaching but this time in four different population centers. He says"one cannot ignore the pleas, urgings and the need to return.. . . I knowof no place on earth where a more enduring and burgeoning good canbe done in so short a time. It will not always be so: Satan will see to that. But right now these fields are white and begging to be harvested. "He stands in need of some help for the expenses of his trip. Theeditor of this paper met with brother Marrs in California last summerand discussed his earlier trip to the Philippines. He is in his 70's butstill very active and his held in respect among the brethren who haveobserved his work for many years. Write to him at the above address or call 510-799-2864.

OF ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL Christians in Jerusalem were so united in heart and soul that the deprivation of some was felt by all, so much so that land owners willinglysold possessions so that none among them lacked what was needed tosustain life. There is still a refreshing generosity among the Lord's people when there is a storm or other natural disaster. Conversation with two brethren in the Miami area a few days after hurricane Andrewdevastated a thirty-mile path across lower Dade County, Florida, toldof calls from throughout the nation to find out the needs of victims there.Both of them had received and disbursed much goods to those who lostso much. I am frequently called by brethren who have received appealsfrom other nations where drought, storm or civil strife has touched thelives of Christians in those areas, trying to verify the needs withsomeone they think has either been there, or knows of the need from other sources. This speaks eloquently of tender hearts.

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But what about "one heart and one soul" when there is not a storm or other calamity to bring out the best in us? What about the splitting and splintering of once strong and peaceful congregations by folks whojust don't like each other? I often get news items about a "new congregation" from places where I know a congregation has existed for many years. While I understand the need to plan and help newcongregations to begin in needed places, all too often the story isrepeated—there is strife and clamor. I commend the outpouring of helpfrom tender hearts in time of trouble. But should we be less concerned about the tragic wreckage of congregations by self-willed people who have so little regard for the welfare of a local church? "Of one heart and one soul"? Well, are we?

**********EUODIAS AND SYNTYCHE

There is a mild hint of trouble in Phil. 4: 2 when Paul wrote "I beseech Euodias and Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in theLord. " We know nothing more about it than what is stated here. Something threatened harmony between them. Paul's appeal was gentle. "I beseech. " He wrote.

I thought of this today when I received a report from a brother inanother country about a problem which surfaced between two sistersknown to us who were co-owners of a business. They decided to sell thebusiness and hard feelings arose between them. It threatened to undermine not only the relationship between these two women who were among the firstfruits of the gospel in that place, but also theharmony between families, the faith of children in both families and thepeace of the congregation itself. Three wise brethren went to them andreasoned with them. They pointed out how much they had suffered together from family and friends when they obey ed the Lord. They wereadmonished about the harmful spiritual effects this could pose to theirown children and what it could do to the church. Guess what? Theylistened! Those arriving early for the service the following week found

these families embracing each other. The husband of one of the sistersstood before the congregation and said that all difficulties were settled.There was great rejoicing. Now that's a story with a happy ending.Somehow I like it better than hearing "the church at ______ has

divided over personal differences (that is seldom ever acknowledged -CWA and a new congregation has been establishedthree blocks away and we are looking for a sound preacher and want tofind congregations that will support him to help us meet this greatchallenge. "

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"LEAVE GOD OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN"

I don't believe God is either a Democrat or Republican. But I surelydo believe that we are in trouble in this country for having already leftGod out of things. We have left him out of school. You can take his namein vain before a classroom of students, but you'd just better not say oneword to commend him. We have left God out of sex education. You can teach young people in school how to commit fornication in graphic detail and give them birth control information and devices but you can't teach that it is sin to engage in sex relations outside of marriage. We have leftGod out of families and the wreckage from that ought to be evident evento the most sophisticated unbeliever. God is even left out of churcheswhen his word is scorned or ignored. He certainly has been left out ofWashington for all too long. Those who do not read and believe the Bibleare blissfully ignorant as to the root causes of the horrendous moralmess in this nation. The principle is so simple. "Righteousness exaltetha nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14: 34). The Lord's people ought to be far more concerned with questions and issues whichhave direct impact on morals than they are with purely secularobjectives. No, let's NOT leave God out of the campaign. Let all contenders for public office revere the word of God and let them seekto lead these people by time honored principles of justice and truth, thepractice of which has been a boon to those nations which have exercisedthem and a scourge to those which have disdained them.