For the Cause. . .

Many members of the Lord’s church (including not a few elders and preachers) refuse to understand that the Lord’s church is the Lord’s army. We exist to fight for the right as the Bible defines the right in everything. In order to remain faithful, beginning with ourselves, we are to engage in spiritual warfare all day long, 365 days out of the year, as long as we are able, and until the Lord returns.

But the previously mentioned brethren hold the false view that if they can just get over the present problem/problems, whatever it/they may be, they will be forever out of the problem business. This false mind-set is one of the devil’s greatest ploys to lull the church into a false sense of security. Once he accomplishes selling the church the error that holiness is harmlessness and whispering sweet platitudes to one another in order to make each other happy in our own conceits is the way to go, the father of lies has a much easier job getting us to digress from the Truth more and more.

In living the Christian life, we are in the process of getting over problems, or we are in the middle of them, or we are about to get into them. This is true of congregations as well as individuals and their families. Of course, this is not to say all problems are of the same magnitude. But, when we once realize that life is one problem after another, the better off we will be. And, when “... we know that ... the whole world lieth in wickedness [in the evil one, ASV–1901]” (I John 5:19), should we not expect problems to abound?

The Lord never promised us a life without problems (Luke 9:23; II Timothy 3:12). To the contrary, Christians are promised many problems because of their faithfulness to Him. However, Jesus said He would give us the solution to those problems (I Corinthians 10:13; II Timothy 3:16–17). Thus, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).

A successful life is one lived on the Lord’s terms. Although the world never will recognize it, when Stephen was stoned to death for his uncompromising stand for the Truth, he died a complete success (Acts 7:54–60). He lived and died governed by God’s will. Stephen thereby continues to be an example to Christians in living and dying (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; I Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10).

David P. Brown

“CONTEND EARNESTLY…”

Jude instructed men to “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints” (v. 3). There are many men now living—quite a number of whom are members of the Lord’s true church—who hold that it is simply not Christ-like to contend for the faith. But this passage corrects that erroneous claim. To “contend earnestly for the faith” is to strive in combat, to engage in a fight, and such like, and, since earnestly carries the idea of intensification, it is clear that Jude 3 teaches that men are to fight with great intensity for the Truth and against error.

Obviously, this does not mean that Christ wants men to engage in petty quarrels. He does not wish that men should wrangle for the sake of strife. Such activity must grow out of a heart that is filled with selfishness, haughtiness, and pride. But one can be humble, loving, kind, and deeply concerned for the cause of Christ and for the souls of men while fighting desperately for the Truth of the Gospel. Jesus did. Peter did. Paul did. And so did many other faithful men during New Testament days. And so have many men who have lived in our day.

Of course, there are many people who have a perverted sense of love and kindness and a distorted sense of what it means to be Christ-like. Such people are severely critical of those who spend most of their lives in doing what the Holy Spirit, through Jude, enjoins men to do. But faithful men must not allow themselves to be intimidated into becoming unfaithful no matter how unpleasant the criticism of liberal, modernistic thinkers may become.

Rather, one must remember not only such persons as Jesus, Peter, and Paul, but also men such as Stephen, who disputed with the Jews and put them to rout by his arguments which proved that what he was preaching was really true (Acts 6:9–10; 7:51–60). Stephen spoke very strongly and argued cogently. Yet, it seems hardly likely that any mere man loved his audience more than did he. Even as men were stoning his life’s blood from him, Stephen prayed, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). This writer challenges any man to show greater love.

In spite of the pseudo-optimistic attitude of many people, there are teachers of false doctrine in this world and there are doctrines being taught which will cause those who believe and obey them to be lost (2 The. 1:7–9). There are preachers and elders…in the Lord’s church who teach error on fundamental doctrines— doctrines about which one must be right in order to be saved. Such men must be opposed, and those outside of the church who teach error must also be opposed.

It is a grievous error to suppose that by merely pretending that there are no false teachers and there are no false doctrines, God’s pleasure will rest upon us if we do nothing about false doctrines and false teachers.

Many Christians, it seems, adopt a “holier-than-thou” attitude simply on the ground that they—in contrast to some others—never engage in any kind of controversy.

Brother B.C. Goodpasture once told me about a preacher who said to him, referring to the pulpit work with a certain congregation, “as long as I am in this pulpit, nothing controversial will ever be preached.” There are a number of things wrong with this statement. In the first place, no one can preach the whole counsel of God without preaching that which is controversial, at least with some persons. In the second place, such sentiment is directly opposed to the sentiment (and actions) enjoined upon men in Jude 3!

Since no one can defend the faith without presenting sound arguments, then it is obvious that Jude 3 demands that men both recognize and honor the Law of Rationality.

Thomas B. Warren

Dealing with Wolves

Attitudes toward false teachers vary. Some people are more concerned about hurting the feelings of those “ravening wolves” which are devouring the flock of God than they are with protecting the precious bride of Christ from being ravaged. Some have come to believe that more  good can be accomplished by being irenic toward those who teach false doctrine and lead astray God’s elect than by marking “those that cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” (Romans 16:17). Some would be afraid to suggest that any today have “concerning the faith made shipwreck” (I Timothy 1:19). To suggest such would be too harsh and/or too unloving. The possibility of dealing with false teachers by delivering them to Satan would be unthinkable to many who want to bring back those blasphemers with a disposition of sugary sweetness. Yet, in the New Testament we have the example of Paul’s dealing with Hymenaeus and Alexander to compare with the sweet-spirited approach common today. To suggest that a false teacher’s words “will eat as doth a canker (cancer, NKJV)” would be too strong and too bold to even contemplate uttering, but Paul stated these very ideas regarding Hymenaeus and Philetus (II Timothy 2:17). On another occasion Paul referred to those who taught damnable doctrines as “dogs” and “evil workers.” Paul was so bold as to shock our “civility” by saying “beware” of these dogs and evil workers. How inconsiderate; how unloving!!?     

Concerning the Cretians, Paul stated emphatically that they were “liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons” (ASV). Before someone says that Paul did not say this but someone who was a prophet among the Cretians  said it, it should be remembered that Paul said “this witness is true” (Titus 1:12-13). Also notice carefully that Paul’s next words of inspiration were, “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). What is meant by “rebuke them sharply”? It does not mean smile and tell them that everything is fine and that there are no problems with what they are doing and teaching! These comments written on this verse are helpful: “Titus should ‘expose,’ should ‘unmask,’ the false teachers and should do it ‘severely.’...Titus must not be content if the false teachers merely soft-pedal their doctrines. They must completely abandon them. There must be a clean cut, a severance....It involved something like a surgical operation. The gangrenous limb must be severed (cf. II Timothy 2:17)” (Commentary on I and II Timothy and Titus, by Ronald A. Ward, page 246). This sounds too severe for some of our irenic brethren who do not want to upset especially false teachers by being too blunt, too harsh, or too direct. It must be kept in mind, however, that Paul’s words were inspired of the Holy Spirit – had the approval of God; it must be observed that Paul was not unloving and unkind; it needs to be noticed that the “irenic spirit” that is so popular among some brethren is NOT the attitude of Paul and others in the New Testament. The irenic approach advocated today by many will not halt false teaching, will not diminish the influence of such teachers, and will not enable the salvation of the false teachers and those under their influence. It should be noted that Paul’s treatment of these false teachers was designed so “that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13b). Can we believe that the “sweet” treatment being presently advocated by some will bring the same result as the divinely authorized approach? Absolutely not!    

According to I Peter 2:21, Jesus is to be our example and we are to follow in His steps. In Matthew 23 our Savior referred to the false teachers as “hypocrites” several times, He called them children of hell, He spoke of them as “blind guides,” He described them as being like tombs that had been white-washed on the outside but were full of dead men’s bones, He stated that they were “children of those who killed the prophets” meaning that they were of the same mindset and attitude, and called them “serpents” and a “generation of vipers.” He then posed the pointed question, “How can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Our Lord’s words were clear, plain, bold, direct, blunt, and TRUE.     

Should we have a more conciliatory approach toward those that destroy precious souls with their false doctrines? Should we ignore the seriousness of their crimes and try to downplay the harm that is being done by those who make shipwreck the faith of many by their damnable heresies? Should we not follow the example of Jesus? Of Paul? Should we act as if the teaching of lies (the commandments of men) does not really matter? Shall we just look the other way when our Lord’s bride the church is being attacked and destroyed by the cohorts of the “roaring lion” which “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Shall we all agree to use only “sweet words,” and just hug each other and act as if any deviation from God’s Word is just a friendly difference of opinion without any real significance? I think not!    

We as Christians are engaged in a warfare with the devil and the forces of evil (Ephesians 6). Many times those who are messengers of evil pretend to be messengers of righteousness (truth) (II Corinthians 11:15). We must be aware of the devices (ways) of the devil (II Corinthians 2:11). If the devil can convince us that soft-soaping error and soft-pedaling false teachers is the loving thing to do, much harm will come to the body of Christ and the souls of many will be lost! Remember, it was the same apostle Paul who wrote, “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Paul did not violate his own inspired instructions when he exposed sharply those false teachers we have noted above. Jesus did not violate that which the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul in Ephesians 4:15. Could it be that the concept of the “loving thing to do” that many brethren have today is not really the loving thing to do? Surely this is the case! Let’s follow Jesus! Let’s expose every false way and mark every false teacher! Let’s be clear whose side we are on!

Lester  Kamp

The Appropriateness of Warnings

When compared with his letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, or to Timothy and Titus, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is couched in very mild terms. The Philippian Church was apparently free of such major problems as those he addressed in the aforementioned epistles. Paul was thus able to devote more of his letter to Philippi to commendation and instruction, rather than to correction. However, there is one explosion of forceful terminology in Philippians – a stringent, explicit warning:“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision” (3:2). My purpose is not to provide an exposition of this verse nor identify those to whom it originally applied. Rather, I want to emphasize the fact that, even in an otherwise mildly-worded letter of encouragement, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to caution those brethren.Warnings about spiritual dangers posed by false teachers and their doctrines are appropriate or the Bible would not be so full of them, as every Bible student knows it is. Please consider the following thoughts concerning some of the “whys” and “hows” of these necessary warnings:

There is a need to issue such warnings as a preventive measure. Preventive medicine is the best kind and usually the least painful. While no righteous person rejoices in the news of a brother, a school, or an entire congregation that has abandoned the Truth, it is better to be warned of such than to be led astray by them through ignorance and/or innocence. Appropriate and timely warnings of men gone astray and of what they are teaching (whether within or without) are a necessary preventive measure brethren can be fortified. By sounding forth warnings of the errors being circulated we can fortify many brethren and prepare them to withstand the errors. This is what Paul did in his three-fold “beware” of the foregoing passage.

Warnings are also needed to cure problems that have already developed from false teaching. Paul did not get the warnings about the evil workers to the Galatians in time to prevent grievous problems from occurring. However, he did not hesitate to sound forth the warnings of the follies and consequences of succumbing to the false teachers although they had done their dirty work. Problems caused by false doctrines can never be cured by ignoring them. The sources of the heresies, as well as the errors themselves, must be exposed by due warnings concerning them if any of those ensnared by them are to be rescued.

When warnings are given they must be in such terms that those who hear may recognize and identify the source of the danger. Otherwise, the warnings are of little worth. Paul used great plainness in the warnings of our text, identifying the “dogs” and the “evil workers” as the Judaizing teachers. He was even more specific when he warned Timothy to shun Hymenaeus and Philetus because their doctrine (that the resurrection was already past) was erroneous and cancerous and had already corrupted some (II Timothy 2:16-18). We are commanded to mark those who cause division through false doctrine so as to identify them, and warn others of them (Romans 16:17). We should always take great care not to slander or falsely accuse others, nor should anyone want to defame another person or institution unnecessarily for any reason. However, when souls are at stake we are derelict in our duty if we do not sound the warnings plainly, including calling the names of men, institutions, or congregations where necessary. May all of our warnings be issued from a broken heart full of love for the sinner, but even more for the Lord, His Word, and His people. 

There is the need to hear and act upon the warnings. We live in a strange time in church history when even the elect have come under the influence of so much human philosophy that they do not want to hear the warnings upon which the salvation of their very souls depends. Because of such shallow and perverted thinking, many brethren are critical of preachers, churches, or publications that are “issue-oriented,” as they are wont to say. Some members of the church are hypersensitive to any exposure or identity of a false teacher or his doctrine, regardless of how destructive he or it may be. Others will come right out and tell you that they do not want to hear about any “problems” in the church, as if ignorance of them would cause them to disappear. Ira Y. Rice, Jr., is right: “You just cannot warn some brethren!”

The Scriptures frequently admonish us to hear reliable spiritual warnings so as to act upon them and thereby avoid many dangers. The Lord wrote seven letters to as many churches, issuing many warnings designed to save their souls (Revelation 2-3). At the conclusion of each letter He urged, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, et al.). Clearly, He not only intended for them to hear, but to heed and act upon the warnings He issued. Some preachers take pride in not keeping up with “the issues,” as if to do so were somehow an unspiritual or vain activity. Too few elderships in my acquaintance are careful to stay abreast of the many winds of false doctrine that are blowing ever more strongly and of the men that are blowing them. Preachers and elders who are wise will stay informed themselves and will keep their respective congregations informed. Not all will listen with appreciation, but all need to hear the warnings anyway. Paul wrote the warnings in Philippians (and in many other) because he knew brethren needed to hear them for their own spiritual safety.

Dub McClish

Preventatives

The title of this article is a derivation of prevent. Webster defines prevent to mean:

to be in readiness for (as an occasion): to meet or satisfy in advance: to get ahead of: to arrive before: to deprive of power or hope of acting or succeeding: to keep from happening or existing: to hold or keep back: hinder, stop: to interpose an article (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary).

The study of polio, mumps, measles, influenza, etc. vaccinations would be classified in the area of preventive medicine. Vaccination, therefore, are for the purpose of depriving the germ or virus of the power to succeed in infecting its host.

As surely as there is preventive medicine for the physical body, there is preventive medicine for the spiritual being. The Great Physician spent much of His earthly ministry vaccinating the disciples against persecution, false teachers, hypocrites, etc. (Matthew 5:11-12; 7:15-20; 6:16). The apostle who had been vaccinated spent much of their time, blood, sweat, heartache, and tears in vaccinating the church against infectious error (Acts 20:28-31; Philippians 3:2; I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 4:3-5). We would do well to receive these vaccinations of love lest we find ourselves unprepared to deal with Satan’s efforts to infect us with sin when they appear (II Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:13; I Thessalonians 5:22).  

There will always be those spiritually weak, insipid, unwise, and short-sighted brethren who believe that one should not preach against the errors of such things as denominationalism, women exercising dominion over men, the divided worship assembly, the error of mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church, turning the worship of the church into a three- ring circus to entertain the assembly, and a host of other errors infecting the church today. To this present hour unqualified men in the position of elders attempt to justify such a false view by teaching that unless the congregation is having trouble with such things there is no use to mention them much less preach against them. Such a position has no Biblical foundation and is directly opposed to the Biblical idea of being forewarned is to be forearmed. This false view itself must also be exposed and refuted.

If people of this stripe had the same attitude about physical vaccinations as they do about spiritual ones it would be a ridiculous and sorry world indeed. I am thankful that my parents did not have that attitude when it came to the polio vaccine.

Over a century ago brother Moses E. Lard gave this timely warning that will never be out-dated:

The prudent man, who has the care of a family, watches well the first symptoms of disease. He does not wait till his wife is helpless, and his children prostrated. He has learned that early cures are easy cures, while late ones often fail. On this experience he resolutely acts, and the world applauds his wisdom. Why should not this same judicious policy be acted upon in the weighty matters of religion? (Moses E. Lard, “The Work of the Past—The Symptoms of the Future,” Lard’s Quarterly, Vol. II, No. 3, April 1, 1985, pp. 251-262. As quoted in The Search for the Ancient Order, Earl West, Vol. 2, 1950, Cushing-Mallory, Ann Arbor).

Then, as now many brethren refused to see the importance of the Biblical sentiments of Lard, and the church of that day suffered greatly for it. Today the Lord’s church is in the tight grip of a terrible apostasy that has been going on for years and shows no sign of abating. More and more churches are turning back to the beggarly elements of human denominational religion and worldliness.

Much of this digression could have been pre-vented if forty years ago brethren would have received the spiritual vaccinations of those who boldly sounded out the first symptoms of the spiritual errors that greatly infect the body of Christ today. But, sadly, it was not to be. Thus, we must reform and regroup the remaining remnant of faithful saints and press on. The victory is ours, but would it not be wonderful if more of our brethren were as spiritually prudent in the care of God’s family as at least some of them are in the care of their own bodies and those of their physical families?

David P. Brown