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Truth Matters
by Micky Galloway
In John 8:32 Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Further in John 17:17, Jesus prayed unto the Father for the apostles, “Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.” Yes, truth matters.
All across this land there are those who are crying for “religious tolerance, deeper understanding, and the spirit of Christ.” However, these same voices that are gentle and tolerant when dealing with erroneous conflicting doctrines and false teachers, become calloused and intolerant toward those who insist on a “thus saith the Lord.” Many are ostracized and branded as “legalists” for calling for “book, chapter and verse” when dealing with all human creeds and doctrines. Must we seek to hold the line of distinction between TRUTH and ERROR or should we just acquiesce acknowledging the sincerity of those who in ignorance practice error?
In time past God demonstrated that truth matters. God was not so tolerant with the unrighteous before the flood! Genesis 6:5-7 says, “Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” The homosexuals at Sodom saw that truth matters as God obliterated their city with fire from heaven (Genesis 19). Truth on this issue is not obscure. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination … And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them … Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire” (Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Jude 7; cf. Romans 1:26-27). If Nadab and Abihu had lived to tell about it, they would have told how intolerant God was concerning the strange fire they offered without divine authority (Leviticus 10:1-3). Indeed, “Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward” (Hebrews 2:2). We cannot manifest proper respect for truth and godliness by tolerating error and sin which God has openly opposed!
Jesus also taught that truth matters. Jesus had promised to build just one church. “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). He prayed against every other one that would rise to compete against it. John 17:20-21 says, “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us” (John 17:20-21). In that prayer He recognized the division of sectarianism and that it would be the seed of unbelief and infidelity! After He purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28), He became the head of it (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18), and became the Savior of that one church (Ephesians 5:23). You can accept the church He promised, built, purchased and saves, or you can take your chance of salvation in churches you cannot read about in the Bible! Indeed, truth matters.
The church as a saved body of people has a spiritual mission. Although individual Christians may become involved in many good community activities, the church must not be diverted from its spiritual mission of preaching the gospel to save the lost as well as to edify itself in love (I Timothy 3:15; Philippians 4:15; II Corinthians 11:8-9; Ephesians 4:16). Benevolence toward needy saints is also a work of the church (Acts 2:44-45; 11:27-30; I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8-9; Romans 15:25-27). Benevolence, however, is a fruit of being a Christian and is not the means used to propagate the gospel. If rendering aid to needy persons were the purpose for which the church exists, then its mission is no greater than the Red Cross. Many churches attract new members by advertising their recreational, educational and social activities. One must never forget that the church was purchased by the precious blood of Christ. Whatever the mission of the church is, it must therefore be directly related to the purpose for which his blood was shed. Government, schools, civic clubs and homes (cf. I Corinthians 11:22-34) can provide for these social activities. The church has a high and holy purpose and its energy, resources, and time should not be diverted to secular responsibilities. Indeed, truth matters.
Recently in an announcement from a California church of Christ advertising their “Third Annual Youth Gospel Meeting” they not only announce Bible classes and worship, but also “Fellowship Activities.” These activities include BBQ, games, sports, pizza, laser tag, bowling and video games. In small print on the announcement sent out by the elders of the church we find the statement, “While these recreational activities are optional, they have been planned by individual members for further fellowship…” (Where in the Bible do we find the word “fellowship” ever used of such recreational activities? mg) Health care information and registration information is requested on a provided registration form. Also requested are charges necessary for various activities, make checks payable to ______ . In a letter from the elders accompanying the announcement we read, “Our plan is to provide a weekend of spiritual and recreational activities that will allow our young people to meet and enjoy the company of other young people who have chosen Christ as their Lord and his Way as their way in this life.”
Someone will parallel this to a gospel meeting. Brethren, let us take our Bibles in hand, search the scriptures and be honest. Are the above activities really parallel to a gospel meeting. Are gospel meetings planned for only one segment of the congregation? When have we had people register, ahead of time, for attendance at a gospel meeting? When have health permits been required for those attending a gospel meeting? When and where have we had individuals to plan recreation for those attending a gospel meeting? When have we announced that the purpose of our gospel meeting is to provide an occasion of “spiritual and recreational activities that will allow young people to meet and enjoy the company of other young people”? When Cornelius planned for what we might call a “gospel meeting,” he declared to the apostle Peter, “Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord” (Acts 10:33).
It is not my desire to question the motives of those who planned the Third Annual Youth Gospel Meeting, but brethren “we are drifting” into the waters of those who have left the truth. Truth still matters!
“That We May Also Be Like All The Other Nations”
by Chris Simmons
The title of this article reflects the reason given by “the people”, that is, the Israelites, for insisting that they have a king to rule over them, even after Samuel warned them of the consequences of such a request (I Samuel 8:20). The primary reason for their request was simply to imitate, and be like the nations around them. God warned the Israelites before they entered the promised land not to “learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations” (Deuteronomy 18:9). In Deuteronomy 12:29-30 we read where they were instructed, “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?'” They were not to pattern themselves after those whom they dispossessed, and they were not to be curious as to their ungodly ways. Yet, we find them asking Samuel for a king, rejecting God and the pattern that God had set forth, in order that they might be like their peers. Later, we read Jeremiah warning them, “do not learn the way of the nations” (Jeremiah 10:2).
We must realize that the dangers God warned the Israelites of, also apply to us today. The Lord’s church continually faces the lethal dangers of desiring to imitate and copy the denominations around us. Are we asking similar questions that God warned against such as, “how do these denominations attract so many people to their congregations, that we also may do likewise?” Are we beginning to model our efforts to attract people to our assemblies or gospel meetings according to the denominations of our society through the enticement of recreational activities and food? Have we started altering biblical terms for things to incorporate the terminology and ways of the world by calling “fellowship” something other than jointly participating in the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:5)? Do we follow the example of human-led churches and alter the biblically defined organization of the church and have men exercise oversight over members that are not “among them” (I Peter 5:2)? Do we appreciate the fact that God’s word has given a pattern for the work, worship and organization of the church and hold fast to it (Cf., Hebrews 8:5)?
On an individual level, our personal lives are to follow a biblical pattern as well. Paul stated in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Are we more concerned with how the society around us is dressing, talking and behaving “that we also may do likewise”? Rather than imitating the example of those of the world around us, Peter wrote, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (I Peter 1:15).
Both the church and each one of us individually must continually be aware of the danger of drifting (Hebrews 2:1) after the example of the “other nations.”