Watchman Magazine

In recent years, many discount the teaching of Matthew 19:9 on marriage, divorce and remarriage by saying, “Jesus’ words do not apply to alien sinners, but only to citizens of the heavenly kingdom.” Cultural accomodationists tell us that lost mankind is not accountable to the gospel, but rather answers to some vague and undefined “universal moral law.” How does one answer such heresy? First, it must be acknowledged that the Bible affirms the concept of a universal moral law (Rom. 2:12-16). However, the question is this: Where did such a code originate? Is it innate, inborn, instinctive and intuitive? Or, is this so-called universal moral law based upon man’s memory – however dim – of divine revelation?

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On August 25-26^th, 2000, two of our institutional brethren squared off in a discussion on marriage, divorce and remarriage. The two disputants were Holger Neubauer, assistant to the president at Tennessee Bible College in Cookeville, TN, and James Maxwell, vice-president of Southwest Christian College in Terrell, TX. The debate took place in Monroeville, AL and was sparked by differences among brethren in a church there.

The propositions and content of the debate are pertinent to issues facing conservative brethren. On Friday evening, the proposition was,

The Holy Scriptures teach that Non-Christians in an adulterous marriage can repent and be baptized and continue in the marriage, being sanctified and justified.

Brother Maxwell affirmed and brother Neubauer denied. On Saturday afternoon, brother Neubauer was in the affirmative on the following proposition:

The Holy Scriptures teach that repentance requires that Non-Christians in an adulterous marriage sever the marriage before being baptized.

Hopefully, this review will be a helpful contribution to the study of this issue. Brother Neubauer was well prepared and thorough in both the negative and affirmative. In his defense of error, brother Maxwell made some arguments worthy of attention if only for the purpose of preparing brethren to answer them. This review is intended as an overview of the debate, rather than a point by point report.

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( Editor’s Note: The following correspondence was initiated with brother Hafley by a man who sought to defend the use of instruments of music in Christian worship. We will limit our identification of the man to his first name, Don. Don’s grammar and punctuation, as well as his sentence construction, lacks formality. We thought it best, however, to retain the form rather than seeking to edit the posts of one with which we disagree. The correspondence is reprinted here for your study on this important subject.)

Don (Post 1):

we better stop praying “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”there are musical instruments in heavenThank You Lord Jesus for filling this brothers heart with Your version of Your word.The Lord won’t agree with my version of “nothin.”Message text written by don

Larry Ray Hafley (Post 1)

Don,Where did you learn that there are “musical instruments in heaven”?Please cite the source of your information.Thanx. Larry

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For many years I have stated that the greatest threat to God’s people was in the realm of fellowship. A few years ago, in the now deceased Christianity Magazine, Ed Harrell launched his plea for “a better understanding” of brethren regarding brother Homer Hailey and advocated a continued fellowship with him, placing such matters in the context of Romans chapter 14. Many brethren felt that the controversy raised over a false interpretation of Romans 14 would be the greatest battle to be fought against Satan and his forces. While the false doctrine that is being advocated by so many on Romans 14 is indeed a very real threat to the people of God, and while it’s ultimate end, if followed, will allow any and all sin into the fellowship of God’s people, I believe the subject of fellowship in general is the very core our problem. If you will think for a moment, it becomes very obvious that God has placed “fellowship” as His guardian for the purity of His people. It was so in the Old Testament when He forbade His people to have any “fellowship” with the people of other nations. It was so when He commanded His people to put away their strange wives (Ezra chapter 10). It is so also in the New Testament.

Fellowship was the “Guardian” for the purity among God’s people in the realm of morality (cf. 1 Corinthians 5). The Corinthians were told to “put away from yourselves that wicked person” ( 1 Corinthians 5:13). The reason is given in verse six. He says that wickedness will corrupt others as well so were told to “purge out the old leaven,” verse seven. In doing so they used God’s “Guardian” for maintaining moral purity among them.

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In the May 12, 2001 Faith & Inspiration section of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, staff writer Patrick McGee had an article entitled “New Believers, True Believers.” The article sought to answer the question, “…what brings people to the decision to change religions?”

The article serves to illustrate just how far away modern day religion has drifted from the holy scriptures.

For example, note the following quote from McGee:

“Clergy of a variety of faiths say some of their congregations’ most devout members are people who did not grow up in the faith – the converts.”

Of course, biblical conversion has reference to salvation from sins, not leaving one denomination to join another. Though the term can be used accommodatively in this way, the fact that an entire article is written on the subject of conversion without salvation from sin even being mentioned is an indication that the entire concept has been distorted in modern denominations.

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VBS Curriculum, 2001

(1) The First Seven Days

I. Introduction

A. Read Text – ALWAYS Read the Text FROM THE BIBLE

1. Genesis 1:1 – Genesis 2:25

B. Memory Verse:

1. Genesis 1:1 (3rd Grade and down)
2. Genesis 1:26 (4th Grade and Up) THIS WILL TAKE SOME CLASS TIME TO WORK ON IT!!

C. Lesson readings – Use as you will

1. Colossians 1:9 – 18; Romans 1:20
2. John 1:1-4; Hebrews 11:3

D. Retell the Story of Creation in your Own Words:

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I’ve seen an amazing thing among members of the church of Christ who are Masons. They, among all other members of the Masonic Lodge, are unique in that they alone contend that Masonry is not a religious institution. In discussing this lodge with people in the denominational world, they usually attempt to defend it and their membership in it by the fact that they regard it as “religious.” But my brethren in the same lodge will try to deny that it is religious at all.

Obviously the reason why “Christians” will do this when sectarians will not is that most of us understand the unique nature of the Lord’s church. We know that the church is sufficient and complete so far as our religious needs are concerned and that a Christian, as a member of the Lord’s church, has no need of any other religious institution. In fact, due to the peculiar nature of the church, we stand in a complete relationship with Christ, truth and hope of heaven — lacking nothing. To suggest that the Masonic Lodge (or any other institution) can add anything to our knowledge of truth, relationship with Christ or hope of heaven is to mock the very nature of the church of Christ.

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Chapel Address — No. 4
J.W. McGarvey, Chapel Talks (1956)

A considerable number of you expect to preach tomorrow. What for? It will cost some labor and anxiety on your own part and some trouble to the audience which you expect to come and hear you; and what for? On your own part, what is it for? Just to fill an appointment? Well, that is very important. If a man has an appointment he ought to fill it, especially if he is a preacher. I have felt this duty pressed upon me all my life as a preacher. I recollect that I had an appointment once thirty miles from home and I expected to reach the place on horseback. When Saturday morning arrived the thermometer registered eighteen degrees below zero. Then the question arose whether I ought to risk being frozen by going to that appointment. But I mounted my horse and went. When I was within a half-mile or so of the village I met with a number of brethren who had been gathering ice for their icehouses. They told me that they were not looking for me. I answered, “Whenever I have an appointment, you look for me”. That has been the rule of my life, and I mention it so that it may help any of you who have been just a little careless. It is very important to always be prompt in filling your appointments.

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In this article we focus on a sometimes neglected subject. When we speak of the responsibilities of a preacher in the mission field the emphasis is often on preaching the truth, zeal for the lost, etc. However, the Bible also teaches that a preacher has the responsibility of seeing to the proper use of the funds churches or individuals have given him for his work. Concerning the funds collected for the saints at Jerusalem, Paul wrote:

And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness: avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us: for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (2 Cor. 8:18-21, my emph., sw)

There are a number of areas wherein Paul and his company might, had they been careless, have been blamed in the matter of the money churches had contributed. Likewise, there are things that brethren need to consider today regarding the use of funds in foreign fields. Let us notice some.

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(A brother sent me the following “Calvinistic ‘cutsie,’” as he called it.)

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my son Matthew spoke up from his relaxed position in the front seat. “Mom, I’m thinking of something.” This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that his seven-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. “What are you thinking?” I asked. “The rain,” he began, “is like sin and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away.” After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. “That’s really good, Matthew.” Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation? So I asked… “Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?” Matthew didn’t hesitate one moment with his answer: “We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us.” Who can drive in the rain again without thinking of this one? Thank You JESUS!

Well, since Jesus shed his blood for the lost, for the sins of those who have never believed on Christ, does the same rule apply to them (1 John 2:1, 2)?

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Nothing is more of a distraction to me than hunger. When I consider that some people purposely abstain from food in hopes of focusing their minds and energy, I must admit a lack of comprehension.

Fasting is a Bible matter, though decidedly more so in the Old Testament than the New. Jesus says a few words of regulation, but there exists no evidence that God intended to bind a form of fasting upon Christians.

Many people today claim they are rediscovering the power of fasting to better their lives and clear their minds to commune more effectively with God. Perhaps this is so; still fasting remains a matter of personal discretion and should not be used a test of fellowship among the saints. Although he spoke originally of vegetarianism and not fasting, the words of Paul are appropriate here due to context: “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received him” (Romans 14:3). “But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse” (1 Corinthians 8:8). While he was not speaking of fasting in particular, he reminds us that the kingdom of God is not meat or drink (Romans 14:17) and that fasting is no part of the worship of the assembled church or an obligation even of the individual.

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In February of 1999 I reported to Watchman readers an internet site which taught New Testament Greek. While the site seems to be well designed, it is hosted by a sectarian organization which teaches error regarding the Scheme of Redemption.

Recently, brother Jeff Smelser wrote me to inform me of a site he hosts which teaches New Testament Greek. The site can be used without registering, or an individual can pay a tuition, and get personal instruction. The site seems to be well-designed, and comes highly recommended. Notice the following reviews:

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The Bible quotation that is the title of this article is language used in the King James Version of Acts 10:34. There, Luke records, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” KJV). Modern translations would use the phrase that God “shows no partiality” (NKJV) or “is not one to show partiality” (NASB). Just for clarity’s sake, understand that the modern translations more accurately state the premise. Some have misunderstood the ancient language to mean that God has no respect for mankind indicating some disdain for man. Nothing could be further from the truth. God sent His only begotten Son to the earth in order to save man. God so loved the world, not disdained it.

That initial point dealt with, let us now look into what Peter said and why. The situation in Acts 10 is the record of the conversion of the first Gentile to the gospel of Christ in the person of Cornelius, a Caesarean army officer, a centurion. This was a man of a good reputation as well as powerful military rank. For verification of these details, please see and read Acts 10 and 11 in their entirety. The significance of the events recorded in these two chapters is seen in that up to this point in time the apostles and the initial converts maintained their Jewish bias against all Gentiles and considered them unworthy of a relationship with God, and certainly not with themselves, as the Jews were the chosen people of God. This bias was misapplied, but God had a plan to overcome their prejudice and show them a better way. Peter, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ as well as a devout Jew, was a tough nut to crack. This would not be the only time he had a problem with prejudice against Gentiles (See Galatians 2, beginning at verse 11). God had a way of dealing with tough nuts, too.

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Do trips to the doctor exasperate you as much as they do me? It seems like there is something wrong when you pay a guy fifty dollars to tell you that you are too fat! Even though it is the truth, it seems to me that I should not have to pay fifty dollars to hear a doctor tell me what I could have told him by looking in the mirror.

During my last doctor visit, the nurse was somewhat more kind in breaking the news. Her way of expressing it made me consider the problem from another angle. She looked very surprised when she had to adjust the balance weights upward and then said, “You hide your weight well.” I had never heard that before, nor do I believe she looked very closely or she would have discovered where I was hiding it. But it did make me think about something. Let us suppose that one could “hide the weight” from others, would it change the weight total? Would it change the effects of the added weight? No, the effects remain the same whether hidden or obvious. There is no relief from the effects of the physical burden by hiding the problem. Whether the nurse, the doctor or the patient think the burden is hidden, it still exists and the effects remain.

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