Article
The Local Church Treasury
by Robert F. Turner via Guardian of Truth XXX: 15, August 21, 1986, pp. 486, 505 My first experience with one who questioned a “church treasury” was in 1943, in Phoenix, Arizona. While taking some exercise, I made a chance acquaintance with an elderly gentleman and we walked along together. When we passed a small church building…
Read MoreNow Concerning the Collection: I Corinthians 16:1-2
by Wayne S. Walker Through the years some have been heard to ridicule the idea of “five acts of worship.” When we understand that the Biblical concept of “worship” involves “an act of homage or reverence to God” (see W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vol. IV, p. 235) then we can…
Read MoreNo Sense in Pretense
Author Unknown via Of America, Volume 1 (copyright 1999 Pensacola Christian College), page 224 You tell what you are by the friends you seek, By the manner in which you speak. By the way you employ your leisure time, By the use you make of dollar and dime. You tell what you are by the things…
Read MoreNew Carts
by Homer Hailey via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. A constant threat to man’s spiritual life in every age has been the disposition to substitute human wisdom for the divine and to do God’s work in man’s way. When God tells man what to do, but does not tell him how to do…
Read MoreThose “Strange” Macedonians
by Bonds Stocks via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October 1952. “Moreover, brethren we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their…
Read MoreMore About Those “Strange” Macedonians
by Bonds Stocks via The Preceptor, Vol. 2, No. 1, Nov. 1952. “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For…
Read MoreMisconceptions About the New Birth
by Dick Blackford Guardian of Truth Volume XXIX: 5, pp. 144-149, March 7, 1985 I receive the Sword Of The Lord, a Baptist publication that claims to be the largest religious weekly in America. In a recent article on the new birth, the above caption was highlighted in the middle of the article. It jumped out…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Church: Means or Result of Salvation?
by Robert F. Turner via Plain Talk About God’s Church, pages 77-80 When followers of Christ are likened to a physical body, Christ is the head and the saints are the members of that body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). All who are in Christ are, by this figure, considered members of His body. We ignore priorities…
Read MoreCan a man be saved without baptism?
Brother Lipscomb: Do the Scriptures say that no one can be saved without baptism, or is it only an inference? If an inference, are not all creeds founded on inferences? I have been reading your paper [The Gospel Advocate] for some time, and I like it very well. Lipscomb’s Answer: Inferences are of different degrees…
Read MoreJohn Clark’s Question
by Steve Moreland Brother John Clark will always remain in my memory for many reasons, the Gospel meetings he held, the graduate-level classes he taught at Florida College, etc. Perhaps the most memorable event was when I was a young preacher in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1979. The congregation was made up of a small group…
Read MoreThe “Jesus Came To Israel Only” Argument
by Terry W. Benton The Argument Stated: “MMLJ — before the cross — was taught only to the Jews of Israel.” I keep seeing the argument expressed that Jesus spoke only to the lost sheep of Israel, or only to Israel. The conclusion drawn from that fact is that “therefore” whatever He said to Israel…
Read MoreIt Was Only a Small Fib (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I have concluded that much of the work of psychologists, psychoanalysts, and even philosophers is to help mankind remove the guilt and shame from their actions. People don’t want to hear that their actions are wrong; their conscience is bothering them enough, thank you very much! They want to be absolved;…
Read MoreIt Depends on What You Mean by “Is”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton based on an ad written by Floyd Chappelear When a person is caught in an indefensible position, they will frequently argue over the meaning of words. If you can’t define your position, then you cannot hold them accountable. Even simple words suddenly become vague because the arguer will not accept any…
Read MoreIs Science the Source of Truth? (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Mankind has long deluded itself into thinking it can accurately determine truth. In the past charlatans and deluded men thought they could divine truth by observing animal organs or through drug-induced trances. Eventually, the search for truth has given way to the use of human reasoning. It has been modified and…
Read MoreIs It Wise?
by Garreth L. Clair Many people today are living their lives a certain way because they have decided that is the way they want to live. Everyone lives a certain way today because they have made the choice to live that way. Environmental conditioning has played a part in the lifestyle of each of us even…
Read MoreIs Evangelism Dying?
by Lloyd Gale In a recent column of the Christian Science Monitor, Michael Spencer wrote; “We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billion dollars we have spent on our youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and…
Read MoreA Sin Leading to Death (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness…
Read MoreHezekiah’s Comforting Words
by Lewis Willis via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 6 p. 14, March 16, 2000 Bible students are aware of that time when the nation of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. Israel was very wicked, living defiantly against God. The Assyrian…
Read MoreDancing in the Bible
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton We will divide the discussion of dancing in the Bible into two sections. The first section will include those Scriptures where dancing is spoken of in a favorable setting. The second section is where dancing is associated with wickedness. We will note the things that are similar within each section and…
Read MoreDid You Ever Wonder Why …
by Floyd Chappelear … people who make astrological forecasts don’t get rich by shrewd investing in the stock market? It would seem that if they can truly foretell future events they should be able to do quite well. … people who believe in the “science of healing of the mind” wear glasses? It would seem that…
Read MoreThe Authenticity of Mark 16:9-20
by Jim Snapps II “Does Mark 16:9-20 belong in the Bible?” The church has answered “Yes” for centuries. Many in the church still do. But in the 1800s, scholars questioned the originality of these 12 verses. Many scholars today take it for granted that the Gospel of Mark originally did not contain this passage. Its style and…
Read MoreIs Mark 16:9-20 Spurious or Genuine?
by Howard See Truth Magazine XIX: 29, pp. 454-455, May 29, 1975 In a recent, late-night television interview of a snake-handling preacher from East Tennessee, the text of Mark 16:9-20 was attacked as being spurious. This was an effort to try to offset the teaching in Mark 16:18, “‘They shall take up serpents; and if they…
Read MoreCommand or Custom?
An Exposition Of I Corinthians 11:1-16 by Hiram O. Hutto The first sixteen verses of the eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth has been the subject of much controversy. The verses themselves are not difficult to understand, and the controversy has not been so much over the meaning as it has…
Read MoreIndwelling (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I was asked if I could explain the concept of indwelling, specifically the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is an interesting question because what is asked is not necessarily what the questioner intended to ask. Most who ask this question have numerous misconceptions that interfere with a plain answer to…
Read MoreTeaching Unpopular Doctrine
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Some questions are difficult to answer, not because the Bible is unclear on a matter, but because there is a strong bias against the correct answer within the culture. Today, we have no difficulty speaking against idolatry. Even non-Christians understand that worshiping an idol is a worthless effort, just as God…
Read MorePreachers (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Among the duties or roles within the church listed in Ephesians 4:11-12 is the work of the evangelist. The word is translated from a Greek word which referred to a person who brought joyous news of victory from the battlefront. When the same word is used in reference to what that…
Read MoreWhy Sex Outside of Marriage Is Wrong
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton In the United States, marriage is becoming increasingly rare. The 2000 U.S. Census found only 51% of all households are married couples, continuing a steady decline over the past several decades. Meanwhile, the number of unmarried couples living together has increased rapidly. In 2000, 5.4 million couples are living together without…
Read MoreWaiting for the Proper Time
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Few youngsters enjoy being told they must wait. When a thought enters their heads, they want to act on it right now. If they desire something, it must be in their possession right now. Any delay to a person who has not lived long appears to be impossibly long. Unfortunately, there…
Read MoreEducation Is Not the Enemy
by Doy Moyer Knowledge is not the enemy of God’s people, and this means that education is not the enemy either, for one must participate in some form of education in order to receive knowledge. While knowledge without love puffs up (I Corinthians 8:1), knowledge itself is not the root problem. On the other hand,…
Read More