The Bible—The Only Guide for the Church
Kerry Duke

The Protestant Movement arose out of a disdain for the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. The argument then and now is authority in spiritual matters: who or what is the final guide in questions of salvation? The Catholic position is that the Bible plus the teaching traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, allegedly given through illumination of the Holy Spirit, constitute the authority of the church. The Protestants opposed this claim, rejecting the dogmas of the clergy as mere opinions. Thus was born the Reformation premise sola scriptura—the Scriptures alone. Only the Bible, they contended, will be our guide. This goal was a noble one, but it turned out to be an illusion. For though the Reformation leaders in theory believed this principle, in practice they contradicted it. Not only did many of them hold on to unscriptural Catholic doctrines and practices (e.g., infant baptism, original sin, etc.), but they also imported the idea of a special guidance of the Holy Spirit to supplement the written Word. The main difference between their ideas of how the Spirit works is that the Catholics believed the Spirit specially enlightens the meaning of Scripture for the clergy, whereas the Protestants believed that the Spirit's illumination of the text of Scripture is equally available to all believers. But the similarity is clear: both Catholics and Protestants believe that we need something in addition to the written Word.

The idea of a supplemental source of authority in religion is not peculiar to Catholics and Protestants. The Pharisees of Christ's time had a well-developed set of traditions which they claimed were the result of a divinely-given oral tradition that was passed down from Moses. As the thousands of pages of the Jewish Talmud attest, Judaism is not a religion that simply follows the Old Testament alone. Similarly, cults base their heretical claims on some type of extra-biblical revelation. For Mormons, this additional source is Joseph Smith and a successive line of "apostles." For Seventh-Day Adventists, it is a guidance of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Ellen G. White in particular. For Christian Scientists, the Scriptures should be read in light of Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health With a Key to the Scriptures. Even Islam must add to the authority of Scripture in order to exist. The Islamic religion asserts that the Bible was inspired of God but insists that it was corrupted by Jews and Christians. The Bible, they argue, must be interpreted in light of the Quran, which they believe to be the truly inspired Word of God.

The New Testament church is the only religious body that has existed since Acts 2 which upholds the Bible as the sole guide in religion. The Scriptures are inspired of God (II Tim. 3:16). Since the perfect God is the author of the Bible, the Bible is a perfect book. The Bible can no more contain a genuine contradiction than God can. Being perfect, the Scriptures contain every truth necessary for man's salvation. The Bible gives us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (II Pet. 1:3) and furnishes us "unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:17). The men who wrote the Bible "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Pet. 1:21); thus, their writings "are the commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37). The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). This message, at first delivered in inspired oral form, was put into written form by the same inspiration and preserved by divine providence. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away," Jesus said (Matt. 24:35). God did not go to the trouble of writing and preserving a book which He offers to man as a merely optional source of guidance. The divine effort behind the present existence of the Bible points to its importance and authority in God's plan. This is why no man may add to or pervert the Scriptures without incurring the wrath of God (II Pet. 3:16; Gal. 1:6-9; Matt. 15:9; Rev. 22:18-19).

This distinctive mark of pure New Testament Christianity is fading rapidly. Like almost every other religious group, the New Testament church is being corrupted by a belief in extra-biblical revelation. Claims to special leadings, messages, or insights from the Holy Spirit, once heralded only by the groups mentioned before, are now being claimed by members of the church of Christ. The emptiness of these claims is that they not only contradict New Testament teaching on the termination of spiritual gifts (I Cor. 13:8-10) but also furnish no proof of their assertions. Even more tragic is the open floodgate nature of these claims. If God gives additional revelation today, then what can be its limits? If God can countervene His statement that the faith was "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) by giving piecemeal extra-biblical information, then why could He not inspire the writing of another testament or another Bible? The only significant difference would be the medium employed and the length of the revelations.

Yes, though the adage may be overused, history is repeating itself. Those interested in moving the church forward by listening to alleged extra-biblical messages are actually doing the opposite. They are leading the church back hundreds of years to the doctrine of Catholicism and Protestantism. Those religious leaders did not hold to the concept that the Bible alone should be our guide, and this is why they still teach and practice many things nowhere found in Scripture. This is the fruit of their error, and this is why we must earnestly call the church back to the Bible and the Bible only.

Editorial
Malcolm L. Hill

We are in one of the very worst apostasies since the day of Pentecost and only a very small remnant will be saved unless something near a miracle takes place. Since the Bible teaches that miracles are no longer in existence I therefore look for only a small portion of the Lord's faithful church to come out of this situation. To my opinion the apostasy of the 1800s pales when compared to the present backsliding that has and continues to take place. Will the church of Christ go out of existence? Of course not (Heb. 12:28)! Are there only one or two faithful preachers left in the world today? I believe there are a few faithful men left in the kingdom and I believe there are some congregations left that will stand for the truth of the Bible. From what I read and see, one does not need a large adding machine to count those faithful and true.

There are those among us that are holding faithful and true to the word of God. There are others that have left the truth for the teaching and doctrines of men. They are the liberal left. They form the Denominational Church of Christ. Why do we call them by this name? Because they want to fellowship the denominations and adopt many of their unscriptural practices. On the other hand we have those who are still "anti." They are opposed to a number of Bible things. They bind where God has not bound and this is just as sinful and wrong as casting aside the teaching of God (Matt. 16:19). Then we have the compromisers and fence straddlers, who do not want to go with the left wing liberals and they do not want to go with the "antis." What they would like to do is get along with those on both sides of the fence.

The compromisers and fence straddlers do more damage to the cause of Christ than anyone else. When the faithful stand up for the truth, they are reminded that the compromisers are in fellowship with the liberal left. If these sideless folks could, they would fellowship the "antis" but the antis will have nothing to do with them. But these half-hearted folks want to get along with all except those that stand for the truth. These sideless people must be half-baked and half-converted for their life declares such. There seems to be a general agreement among the politicians in the church. I wonder if they have had meetings to decide what they will do and what will be their practice. Have they met and agreed that the small faithful group of brethren should be rejected and given little attention? Thirty years ago the majority of the brethren stood where some of us still stand. Many of the churches and especially the larger ones where I preached as a younger preacher no longer invite me and those who stand where I still stand to preach for them. Why? I do not think it hard to answer this question. This is so because brethren and churches have moved over the past 25 or 30 years. They no longer stand for what they once did. Were they right then or now? It has to be one or the other of these. I say many churches and brethren have changed. They have been led into denominationalism and denominational practices. I have no desire to be with them in their wrong any more than they have a desire to be with me in the right. I refuse to be on those liberal programs and lectureships unless I am permitted to lay bare any and all unscriptural practices. No program is worth giving up the truth to be on!

Many that would have us believe they are interested in following the Bible fake it. They invite and fellowship false teachers to be on their programs. Those who do this are sometimes well known. Their religious politics and need for money has a greater hold on them than does the truth. This is a shame and disgrace before Almighty God! Some among us today want to be known as the catalyst. They want to be remembered as directing both sides when in essence they are tearing down the church of God and God will remember this in the day of judgment (Ecc. 12:13; II Cor. 5:10).

Do we know who the church wreckers and change agents are? Tennessee Bible College is a small college. Some want to characterize us as "sitting out in a corn field." But let me tell you something, we know who the church wreckers are and will have nothing to do with them until they are ready to repent and do right. Some of our large "Christian Universities" at first seem not to know the change agents and the church wreckers. We have talked with them about this, and when asked about this matter and pushed for an answer, one finds out they know a whole lot about what is going on in the brotherhood. The truth about the matter is that they do not care, or they are so weak in faith that they will not take a stand. Shame on them for acting like they do not know when they really do. When people do this type of thing, they are hypocrites and pretenders. God will take care of them.

So what must the righteous do? They must read and follow the Bible regardless the cost. The truth will always win out. It may take a while but it will take place. Those thinking properly would rather face God with 10 righteous than with 10,000 unrighteous. What will you do dear friend? As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

The Church and Salvation
Ronald D. Gilbert

Some in the religious world today say there is no connection between the church and salvation. In Ephesians 3:10-11 Paul tells us that the church was in God's eternal purpose. Acts 4:12 affirms that salvation is in Christ. In order to have salvation one must get in Christ (Acts 2:47). How then can one be in Christ and out of the church? This is also seen in II Timothy 2:10 where Paul said: "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Ephesians 1:3 declares, "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Must one then be a member of the New Testament church to be saved? The Bible says yes!

In Ephesians 2:11 Paul gives a vivid description of the spiritual condition of those outside the Lord's church: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."

Consider the following points on Ephesians 2:

"Outside the church, Paul said 'aliens.' We all know what an alien is. That is a common word now. An alien is not a citizen. Aliens and strangers without God, without Christ, without hope—in the world, not in Christ, not in the church. Out of the church, an alien, a stranger, no hope without God, without Christ. But, 'Ye are made nigh.' How? Verse 16 says: 'reconciled in one body.' All right put reconciliation on the inside. Saved out of the church? If so, saved without reconciliation. 'Reconciled in,' in what? In the one body. Paul had just said that Christ is his body. Now he says these aliens are reconciled in it. But it is said, that means the Jews and the Gentiles are reconciled to each other. No, it says, 'reconciled unto God in one body.' Reconciled 'unto God' in one body. If one is saved out of the church, he is saved without reconciliation unto God. The thing that reconciles one unto God, puts him into the one body, the church."¹

In Ephesians 2:16 Paul declares, "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Remember in Ephesians 1:22-23 that Paul said the church is the body. The Bible says that man is reconciled unto God in one body, that is the Church.

Next, consider that the church was purchased by the blood of Christ. Paul declares this fact in his speech to the elders at Ephesus: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). The price paid for the church was the blood of Christ. Peter declared in I Peter 1:18-19 that we are redeemed by the blood: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Usually the value of a thing is determined by the price paid for it. The church was purchased by the blood of Christ.

To say that being a member of the Lord's church is not necessary for one's salvation is to say that one can go to heaven without:

1. Being called by the gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14; I Thessalonians 2:12; Colossians 3:5; Romans 1:7)
2. Being reconciled (Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 2:11-14)
3. Being purchased by the blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19; Acts 20:28); "Church being the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:22); Christ-the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9); Church - the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:22); Cannot come to God and ignore Christ; Cannot come to Christ and ignore church (Colossians 2:10)."²

The church was in God's eternal purpose. It was prophesied in Old Testament Scriptures. It was established on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. Those who try to separate the church and salvation do so in vain.

¹Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Bulwarks of the Faith (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Publications, 1951), p. 210.
²Foy E. Wallace, Jr., The One Book Analyzed and Outlined (Murfreesboro, TN: Dehoff Publications, 1987), p. 59.

The Church in Prophecy
Holger Neubauer

Contrary to the many misapprehensions of the denominational world the church of the New Testament was always a part of God's plan. In Ephesians 3:10-11 the eternal plan of God concerning the church is stated concisely, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." The church is no afterthought nor second plan of God as premillennialists argue as they try to explain why the kingdom that the Old Testament prophets predicted didn't come in New Testament days. The truth of the matter is that the church is the kingdom of God and careful Bible students can see this fact easily.

In 606 B.C. the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city of Jerusalem. After conquering the city and stripping the golden city of her wealth, the Babylonian king took captives back to his land. Among the captives was the young Daniel whom God would later use as a seer to Nebuchadnezzar. The Father of Spirits disturbed Nebuchadnezzar with a dream. Since the details of the dream could not be remembered by the Babylonian ruler, the king ordered his magicians to make the details of the dream known to him which of course they could not do. Under the threat of death the magicians discovered a Hebrew that claimed that his God could make known the dream and its interpretation. The magicians then called for Daniel and the young prophet begged Jehovah God's help in interpreting the king's dream. Daniel's prayer was answered quickly and the young man was sent to Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel then set forth the dream and the interpretation to the king. Daniel described a great image with a head of gold, breast of silver, belly and thighs of brass and feet of iron and clay (Dan. 2:31-33). Daniel also described a stone that was cut out of a mountain without hands. The stone smote the image, breaking it into pieces and becoming a great mountain.

Daniel then gave the interpretation of the dream. The head of the image was representative of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, Babylon. The other divisions of the image represented three kingdoms that would succeed Babylon. History tells us they were: the Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. In this last empire God promised to establish his everlasting kingdom (Dan. 2:44). The kingdom of God was prophesied to be established during the time when rome ruled the earth.

Our Lord preached about this very kingdom as he walked the earth. In Mark 1:15 and Matthew 4:17, Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God was at hand. The savior promised that some of the disciples would not die until the kingdom would come with power (Mark 9:1). The Lord also promised the disciples that they would know the kingdom would come when power would come upon them (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit was also identified as that agent of power and the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem in Acts 2. Jesus identified Peter as the one that opened the door of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19). By the time the book of Colossians was written the kingdom is presented in past tense, having already come (Colossians 1:13). Revelation 1:5, 9 also speaks of John already being in the kingdom. A perusal of Acts 2 tells us that the Holy Spirit came there and Peter was opening the door of the kingdom just as Jesus promised (Acts 2:38). The result of Peter's preaching was that the church was established (Acts 2:47). God's kingdom on earth is the church of the New Testament. Daniel is but only one of the prophets that spoke of the kingdom to come, but he predicted the coming of the kingdom in a time where no one should miss its true identification as the church that Christ came to build.

The Establishment of the Church
Glenn B. Ramsey

Religious teachers have varying views about when the church of Christ was established. Some say that the church was established. Some say that the church was established during the lifetime of John the Baptist. Some say that the church was established during the personal ministry of Christ. The Bible teaches that both ideas are false. The Bible teaches that the church was established on the First Pentecost Sunday following the resurrection of Jesus after His ascension back into heaven.

The church could not have existed in the days of John the Baptist because John was already dead when Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Indeed the church could not have existed before the gospel could be preached (in its fullness). If it had, then the house would have been built before the foundation was laid.

In the second chapter of Acts when Jesus was first preached to be the Son of God and Savior of men the foundation was laid and the church was built upon it. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 28:16: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

If the church was built before the death of Christ then it was set up without the preaching of Christ. Is it possible to have a church of Christ without the preaching of Christ? You could have a denominational church without the preaching of Christ; you could not have the church of Christ without the preaching of Christ.

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit began His work of converting people through the proclamation of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit was not to be given in this manner until after Jesus had been glorified. John 7:39 says, "(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" Also Jesus had said plainly that the Holy Spirit would not come until He had gone away (John 16:7-9). To have the work of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of Christ, the church had to begin on Pentecost day.

We should also observe that the facts of the gospel could not be preached until Jesus had arisen from the dead. It was then that He could be proclaimed as the Son of God. He had been confessed to be the Son of God by Peter and acknowledged as being the Son of God by the Father. Yet in each instance He had insisted that no one be told this until He had arisen from the dead. The record says in Luke 24:46-49: "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Obviously, if the church had existed before the day of Pentecost, it would have existed without Christ being proclaimed and without the Holy Spirit's presence and influence in the conversion of men. When we begin with the second chapter of Acts, we first see where the Holy Spirit instructs men how to be saved (converted).

It was on Pentecost that men heard for the first time the complete gospel preached. They also learned the terms of pardon that they must obey to be saved. The man who had the "keys" to the kingdom of heaven announced the terms of admission into that kingdom (church). The Scriptures read: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:36-41).

Finally, it was on Pentecost that the church is mentioned in the present tense (as actually in existence) and not mentioned in the future tense (that it would be established). The last verse of Acts 2 says: "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

The Church and Worship
David Hill

In the very beginning of time God made man and gave him (mankind) dominion over all the plants, sea creatures, birds of the air, and animals (Gen. 1:26-30). Man's creation and the charge given man to have dominion over every living thing in the earth came on the sixth day of creation. In the very next chapter as we have it, God is said to have rested from His labor of creating. The day He rested is the day that he "sanctified" or set apart from the other days.

By the time that one reaches the account inspired of God from Moses' pen in Exodus 16, we see in verse 23 a reference to the holy sabbath which the Lord intended to be kept as a practice (weekly): "Remember the sabboth day to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8). The Lord's worship was not to be defiled nor was His day to be ignored (Ex. 20:3, 8-11; Ex. 31:13-17; Ex. 32:7).

One of the more beautiful verses of scripture on worship is found in I Chron. 16:29 where the inspired writer said; "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Exalt the Lord God to the best of your ability; go before Him who is the Holy of Holies as one set apart from the world in purity. A great part of the earthly side of this beauty is a pure heart given to God. The old covenant required the heart to be involved in worship to God just as much as the New Covenant does. In the decline of Judah, the prophet Jeremiah revealed to all what was going on with his fellowmen at that time. He said that they (the people of Judah) would steal, murder, commit adultery, burn incense to Baal and then stand before God in His house and say, "We are delivered to do all these abominations" (Jer. 7:9-11). The problem with God's people in Jeremiah's time was that they had left God and were continuing to go through the form of worship that had been required for generations; however, just as Israel their heart was far from God (Is. 29:13). The prophet Joel said, "Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God" (Joel 2:13). Many have made the mistaken comment that the old law was a ritualistic form type of religion, not so, while there were rituals and forms to follow, one's heart had to be in the worship and service to almighty God under the old law.

The prophets foretold of change to come and Jesus himself told the Samaritan woman at the well that a change was coming in worship (Jn. 4:21). He said the hour is coming "when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (Jn. 4:23). That hour came with the beginning of the church in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem which was the first day of the week.

Failing to remember the Sabbath day was punishable by death. Why? Because God is serious about his worship and the times he sets aside for worship! In the New Testament God said that Christians are not to forsake "the assembling" of the saints (Heb. 10:25). Why? Because when one willfully sins "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10:26). The New Testament church came together on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:2). Worship to God is a serious matter! The church of the New Testament had its own unique practices observed to be different to all other religions and practices. That is in part why the church was referred to numerous times in the book of Acts as "the way." One could tell them apart from all others, because God had set them apart (Heb. 10:10).

When the church came together, they sang (Col. 3:16). Why? Because the word of Christ was dwelling in them richly. Those Christians of the New Testament prayed (I Cor. 14:15), the gospel was preached (Acts 20:9), and on the first day of the week, they partook of the Lord's Supper and gave of their means (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2). This practice of worship was to be orderly and practical (I Cor. 14:40).

Was God ever satisfied with manmade inventions in worship? No, in fact God is beholden to man in nothing (Acts 17:25). Manmade worship practices have "no value against the indulgences of the flesh" (Col. 2:21-23).

A good question today and a challenge to all who claim New Testament Christianity is: where did God ever allow mankind to entertain with his sacred form of worship? Many are promoting entertainment groups which "praise God." Where would one find such a practice in the New Testament? The fact is, no place in the Old or New Testament allowed anyone to practice forms of worship for entertainment purposes. Perhaps one could give an example of drama used in the teaching of the apostles. This would be most informative for all. Is drama teaching? Yes, it could certainly be considered as a teaching method, but it is different to the teaching authorized in Scripture. Maybe someone says drama was not known in New Testament times. Examine ancient history and see if historical fact will support such a position. When examining the historical record, it can quickly be seen that ancient Greeks were very developed in dramatic productions before the time Christ walked on this earth. So, where would one find drama, and entertainment used in praise and worship to God? Not in the Bible!

Finally, it is important to remember man's place in God's creation. God made man (Ps. 100); it is His favor that all men should seek (Ecc. 12:13). Man has always had an obligation of worship to his creator and it is and has always been a very specific, serious matter to God. The Lord's church is authorized on the pages of the new Testament, and therefore the practices of the Lord's church must be found in the New Testament. Proper worship to God is authorized by the inspired Word of God which is the New Testament. All other practices outside of the Bible are not inspired of God and are sinful and wrong when used in the worship of the church. The worship of Almighty God is very serious and will determine one's eternal destiny in heaven or hell.

Clerical Young Pastors
Ben Franklin

That there should be occasionally a young man, with the vies that have been fostered and encouraged by some among us, of a "pastorate," who would assume authority to cast persons out of the church, and give letters of commendation, is not strange. There were some even in the time of the apostles, when no such views of a "pastorate" existed, who assumed such prerogatives and "prated against us" (the apostles). In III John 9,10, we have a reference to one of them. "I wrote to the church," says John, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church." We have fallen on the track of a few young men, and some old ones, of this stripe; but their race is short. The brethren, whatever else is true of them, are not prepared for clerical assumptions. They will not have the manacles put on them. Such men will not trouble us long. Some of them will go over to sectarianism at once, thinking that the shortest road to a "pastorate." Others will go to law, medicine, or to nothing. But the main body of our young men are true and noble in the highest sense, as humble and faithful as can be found anywhere. They are studying to know and do the will of God. We are not sure that, as a class, they are not generally sounder than their instructors in the gospel.

We regret to see anything like collision or rivalry between old and young preachers. Young men get a little fast sometimes, and old men become a little cross; but these matters will all work their way out. As a humorous writer said some years ago, after writing a long piece about nothing, as a burlesque on certain persons, "We are all poor critters." We need a great deal of mercy and grace.

It is a little trying for old men, after toiling a lifetime in the cause, and when they are struggling under the infirmities of age, to be shoved aside, as we know some of them are, and treated with contempt by the young men who ought to be a comfort and consolation to them. The cause is the Lord's, and we are His, and we shall all give account to Him. Let us keep pure ourselves, and keep the church pure; let us make a record of which we shall not be ashamed when the Lord shall come. We must study to bear our burdens, and to do so without murmuring. What we cannot cure, we must endure.

Editor's Note: This article from the beloved and late Ben Franklin was written in the 1800s when the church was going through a sad transition. Today we are going through the same type thing. If the older teachers of the gospel had been faithful to stay with the gospel, we would have many excellent young preachers preaching today. In spite of many strange doctrines flying here, yon, and everywhere, we still have some fine young preachers. I am not so sure but that they will come forth in strength and faith more than their teachers. I pray they will. We need every faithful soldier of the cross we can find for the present situation. If we could find enough faithful preachers of the gospel, many of the weaker preachers would straighten up overnight. Number, not conviction, count with them!—Malcolm L. Hill

The Same is True Today
Malcolm L. Hill

In 1883 John F. Rowe made the following statements about Bible colleges. "And yet we establish colleges and ask the brethren to support them, with the avowed object of training young men to know the Bible, to know the plan of salvation, to know the difference between our distinctive plea, and the shibboleths of sectarian parties and to understand the ground reasons of our separation from all entangling alliances with the sect world. If the country is to be flooded with a hungry horde of pastors who are unacquainted with the aims and objects of the fathers of the Reformation, we see no practical benefit in 'Bible colleges.' The title is a misnomer and the pretension is a sham" (quoted by Earl I. West in Search for the Ancient Order, vol. 2, p. xii).

David Lipscomb University, Harding University, Freed-Hardeman University, Abilene Christian University and others were started by dedicated Christian men in order that the gospel may be known and preached throughout the world. Many, many Christian men and women gave sweat, blood, and tears that these institutions could be built and their work carried on. For years these institutions did a good job of staying with the Bible and teaching young men and women the Christian way. But through the years they began to drift, some more than others, until the present and now many do not have the faith in these institutions that they once did.

Out of our schools of higher learning are coming uncertain sounds from their graduates. They are causing discord and confusion. It is past time to wake up and speak out.