A Letter From The Editor of
The Gospel Journal

April 28, 2002

Mr. David Hill
Public Relations Director
Tennessee Bible College
Cookeville, TN 38503-0865

Dear brother Hill:

I apologize for not replying sooner. I am woefully behind on my correspondence.

In response to your letter, I do not necessarily agree that I "owe" you an explanation for declining your ad. We are in no way obligated to accept advertising just because the advertiser is willing to pay for it. Our advertising policy has stated from the beginning: "We reserve the right to refuse any advertising submitted." While The Gospel Journal may be the first publication to refuse an ad from TBC, TBC is not the first would-be advertiser The Gospel Journal has had to refuse. While I am under no obligation to explain our refusal of your ad, I don't mind stating a reason.

I have difficulty believing that you are really surprised that we turned down your ad. While I'm not surprised that you submitted it, it would surprise me if you submitted it thinking we would run it. Although your father and I go back almost fifty years in our acquaintance (F-HC, 1954), he appreciates my convictions and my life's work (with which he is amply familiar) so little that he challenged me a few months ago to debate him on the subject of fellowship. I infer from this that he does not consider himself in fellowship with me. Since he represents TBC as its president, I must also infer that his view of me represents that of the faculty and staff of TBC. Now why would he (or you) even want to advertise in a paper edited by someone whom he considers, if not a liberal, at least a fellowshiper/coddler of liberals?

Likely I am in agreement with you and others at the school on most points of obligatory doctrine and practice. We could/should be fighting the great apostasy together, but it cannot happen as long as you fellows continue to viciously attack and challenge for debate men who have for several decades hated and opposed liberalism and false doctrine every bit as much as you all do. (Some of us will be willing for anyone to compare our records of opposing error and preaching the Truth with your father's any time. Many were doing this years before you were born and we are still doing it.) Attacks (sincere though they be) of such men have made TBC a laughingstock, costing you credibility with a host of faithful brethren. David, I do not wish you or any others at TBC any harm whatsoever. I wish I could support and endorse TBC, but until you brethren learn to balance your zeal with some wisdom and common sense, I cannot do so.

Cordially,
Dub McClish

Editorial

David Hill is my oldest son and has worked with Tennessee Bible College as the Public Relations Director for more than thirteen years. He runs that department with my approval totally and completely. David is a fine Christian man and cares nothing for the politics in the churches of Christ. It was his decision to run an advertisement in The Gospel Journal. Please keep this in mind as you read my review of Dub McClish’s letter to him.

The very first paragraph of Brother McClish’s letter carries with it an arrogance without cause. No one has tried to force him to respond with an explanation for not running the Tennessee Bible College ad. It is obvious that he received some gratification in letting us know that he is the boss and that others have been turned down who wanted to run an ad in his paper. In the June issue of his paper I counted nine advertisements for people to either subscribe to The Gospel Journal or advertise through its pages. And by the way, could his advertising of The Gospel Journal which was in The Gospel Journal be fill-ins or leftover space for the June issue? When all is said and done, he may wind up with no Gospel Journal for brethren to request and advertising in. We have not had to sell space for the Living Oracles because brethren have been good to us and have sent us support for its publication and circulation. However, if we do start selling advertising space, we will never turn down any faithful work that is being done by good brethren.

Brother McClish actually judges David Hill’s heart in the second paragraph of his letter. He said, “I have difficulty believing that you are really surprised that we turned down your ad.” David was surprised that McClish turned down his request because he came to me with the letter from McClish and asked my judgment about writing him and asking him why he turned us down. I told David to use his own judgment in the matter. To be quite frank about it, it did not matter to me if McClish ran the material or not.

I did go to school with Dub McClish in 1954 at Freed-Hardeman College. I do believe he knows the truth. I do appreciate the work Brother McClish has done for the truth as well as all others that have helped the truth. I did write him and ask him to meet me in a debate on Christian fellowship a few months back because I believe he is wrong on that subject. Needless to say, I heard zero from him about meeting me in a discussion on Christian fellowship. I must say he will have more courage than I think he has if he deals with this material and other materials in The Gospel Journal. Brother McClish, the invitation to meet me in a discussion on Christian fellowship still stands.

Brother McClish says, “I infer from this that he does not consider himself in fellowship with me” (see letter). I do not see how I could withdraw fellowship from Brother McClish since he is not a member of the congregation where I serve as an elder and am a member. I can mark him for disobeying Bible teaching if such is necessary (Rom. 16:17-18), but to withdraw fellowship from him, as congregations should with their Bible-rejecting members, would be unscriptural in my way of thinking. For the congregation where I attend to be held responsible for the discipline and disfellowshipping of every unfaithful member of the church around the world seems rather ridiculous to me. Hebrews 13:17 shows that elders must discipline those whom they serve as overseers. Now a congregation may mark and refuse to work with an unfaithful congregation or an unfaithful member of another congregation (Rom. 16:17-18). I must say that it would not surprise me if Brother McClish and The Gospel Journal would withdraw fellowship from any brother he wishes to since he can decide who is a member of the church and who is not a member of the church according to the February 2002 issue of The Gospel Journal, page 31.

Brother McClish can do much inferring. He infers that I represent the faculty and staff of Tennessee Bible College since I am the President of the institution. No, Brother McClish, I do not represent the faculty and staff at Tennessee Bible College. I do not work with a bunch of little babies that expect me to give them the bottle every day, nor do they bow down and lick my shoes in order to stay in my good graces. I expect them to follow the Bible on salvation issues. Sometimes some editors of religious papers seek for their little clique and as many as will to bow down to them.

McClish wonders how Tennessee Bible College could wish to advertise through his paper since we disagree with him. We advertise Tennessee Bible College in the local newspaper, Brother McClish, and they have some people of every stripe working there. How can a man get this so far off in his reasoning? Please keep in mind that he is the editor of The Gospel Journal. Religious politics makes strange bedfellows, and it also makes for strange reasoning. I say Dub McClish is up to his eyeballs in religious politics, and I stand ready to prove it. He must get the nod from Memphis, Tennessee before he does much of anything. These religious political men are a hindrance to the unity of the body of Christ.

McClish talks a good talk in many things, but he practices something else. He says we should be fighting the great apostasy together. I amen this. But why are we not fighting together? The answer is plain and simple – religious politics. Brother McClish, please write an article in The Gospel Journal and show where we are off at Tennessee Bible College on any salvation issue. Please do this. I am asking you to do this. You have my approval to do so. Brother Dub says that the teachers at Tennessee Bible College “viciously attack and challenge for debate men who have for several years hated and opposed liberalism and false doctrine every bit as much as you all do.” If this is so, then why have the men we have exposed fellowshipped false teachers many, many times? I would be interested in meeting Brother McClish in a public discussion on this topic. Brother McClish, let your courage equal your written word. Will he do so? I will let the readers answer for themselves.

McClish says that TBC is a laughingstock and has lost credibility with a host of faithful brethren. This must be so because Brother McClish says it is so. Did Brother McClish find this out by talking with Marlin Connelly, a three-time Nashville Jubilee speaker whom McClish gave advertisement to when he appeared on the East Tennessee School of Preaching lectures in 1999? Maybe he found this out when he talked with Brother Billy Smith who invited F. LaGard Smith to be on the Freed-Hardeman lectures. Brother Billy Smith was on the Memphis School of Preaching lectures which Dub McClish approves of and pushes in The Gospel Journal. Maybe he got this from V.P. Black whom McClish advertised in The Gospel Journal just a few months back. Black is on a program at Tahoe Family Encampment July 20-27, 2002, with such liberals as Marlin Connelly, Jack Evans, Bill Humble, Willard Tate, and others. On and on we could go with this. If faithful brethren really knew the truth, I wonder who would be the laughingstock in the brotherhood.

In the last sentence Brother McClish says, “. . .until you brethren learn to balance your zeal with some wisdom and common sense. . .” Does Brother McClish know what wisdom and common sense are when it comes to following Christ? Is it God’s wisdom and common sense to let politics lead you in religion? Is it wisdom and common sense to advertise liberals on lectureships? Is it wisdom and common sense to practice open fellowship? Is it wisdom and common sense to refuse to advertise a faithful Christian college without one bit of Bible authority? If so, Brother Dub McClish has wisdom and common sense, and it is reflected in The Gospel Journal through his writings.
–Malcolm L. Hill, Editor

Hypocrisy
David S. Hill

When people take the character of another, acting either in a play or in life, and they speak or act in character, they are a form of the original meaning of hypocrisy as used in the Scriptures. Vine defines the primary meaning as “a reply, an answer,”...as the actors spoke in dialogue, “play acting” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, p. 316). The term is defined in Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary as “feigning to be what one is not” (p. 163). In the same family is the word for hypocrite, which is defined similarly and can refer to acting on a stage. So it can be understood that hypocrisy is one in the state of acting. The term translated “dissimulation” is very close to the term “hypocrisy” and is used that way (Gal. 2:13); it means acting like someone other than yourself, playing the part of someone you are not.

Can one be like the above defined terms? Listen to the words of the Lord to the “Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites” of Matthew 23:28: “Even so ye also appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Jesus said those religious leaders were appearing to be something they were not. Notice the Lord, who could see the hearts of men (John 2:25), said they acted like righteous men but were really full of iniquity. It is evident to anyone observing both the world and the church that hypocrisy, especially in religious people, is hard to discern for many. Why? Well, for one thing, we all want to believe the best about a brother or a sister. In this non-judgmental society of 21st century America, it is even harder to get folks to see the truth about a religious individual because they “don’t want to judge...it’s not loving.” But our Lord spoke to that also – He said, “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement” (John 7:24). Jesus instructed his disciples to judge the fruit of an individual (Matt. 7:16, 20). Did the Lord contradict himself? No. He said to judge properly, look at what the individual says and see if that is what he/she does. That is the very point where Jesus began his condemnation in Matthew 23:3; he said to do what the Pharisees taught, but don’t do as they do because “they say and do not.” That is hypocrisy defined by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When men say, “I love the Lord” and they can’t even find four hours a week to meet with the saints, their fruit of apathy and neglect declares them to be in hypocrisy. Far too often today the problem of marriage, divorce, and remarriage is the root of many problems in the church. Those guilty of violating God’s marriage law don’t want to be seen as bad people, so they excuse sinful, destructive, impenitent behavior of the past and live in defiance to the clear teaching of Matthew 19:9. Though living in adultery, these people say “we are dedicated Christians, and we love the Lord.” Sadly, their adulterous life declares otherwise. And in the liberal movement of the day, examine the swollen, large congregations of the digressive movement and see for yourself the percentage of divorcees making up the membership. Further, see how they respond to the Lord’s teaching of Matthew 19:9. Now, if individuals will thwart clear Bible teaching on one subject, what is to keep them from rejecting the words of God on any other subject. Instrumental music? No problem. Dancing, partying, social drinking? No problem for them. Why? Because they pick and choose the teaching they wish to follow, acting like someone they are not – hypocrisy.

Society is certainly dealing with the results of the broken marriages, and that has come into the church. Preachers, who know what the Bible teaches and refuse to proclaim the clear truth on marriage, adultery, dancing, drinking, purity, and worship while claiming to stand for the truth are play acting; they are living in hypocrisy.

Some preachers and elders say that they are against every false way, yet they fellowship false teachers in gospel meetings, youth programs, special lecture programs, pulpit exchanges and encampments. Yes, even at Christian camps, they are playing the part of a hypocrite; therefore, they are in hypocrisy (II John 9-11, Rom. 16:17-18).

You see the subject is not and should not be the outward appearance, but rather the righteousness of the individual. What are they really? Can one judge in this matter? Jesus said we could and we should if we would be His disciples. The bottom line is there is a high price to pay immediately, but if we refuse to serve the Lord and pay that price now, a higher price will be paid in eternity. I am afraid that with the powerful influence of Hollywood on society and on the church, many like the actor better than the real thing – that’s hypocrisy.

Homosexuality and Lesbianism
Ronald D. Gilbert

Today the few who have the courage to openly speak out against homosexuality are quickly labeled as bigots or as condemning people who cannot help what they are. All acts involving sex are choices people make. Every sex offender could claim as his excuse, “I can’t help it; I was born this way.” Homosexuality is nothing new; it has been around for thousands of years.

The Old Testament was clear concerning the condemnation of homosexuality. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Lev. 18:22). “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Lev. 20:13).

Genesis 19:4-11 indicates that homosexuality was the sin involved in the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God” (Deut. 23:17-18). Judges 19 and 20 describe homosexual behavior among the men of the tribe of Benjamin in the city of Gibeah. At God’s command 25,000 men were killed because they tolerated this sin. “And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel” (I Kings 14:24).

The New Testament also condemns this sin. “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Rom. 1:27). “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Cor. 6:9-11). Notice homosexuals can be forgiven but they must stop practicing that sin in order to repent. I Timothy 1:10 also mentions this sin. The Bible also points out that all sexual relations outside of marriage are sinful (Heb. 13:4). The Bible only authorizes men and women to marry – see Genesis 2:21-25; Matthew 19:4-9 – everything else is a perversion of God’s plan. See also I Corinthians 7:2-5 which also addresses men and women, husbands and wives.

Jude 7 said the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah “gave themselves over to fornication, going after strange flesh. . .” The Greek word porneia for our English word “fornication” is a broad term meaning any and all forms of illicit sexual intercourse. As longs as fornication is sinful, homosexuality and lesbianism will be sinful.

Homosexuality and lesbianism may have their supporters, but they will get no support or encouragement from the word of God. These things have always been an abomination in the sight of God.

God’s word must be our standard in life because we know it will be our standard in death. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Glenn B. Ramsey

A witness is, “A person who gives testimony; testimony given for or against someone, often in a lawcourt setting, where there is considerable concern for the truth of the testimony” (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary). Such a witness is expected to tell the truth. One who lies has the condemnation of God. Revelation 21:8 says,

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

In today’s society most folks do not want to live next door to a murderer, a whoremonger or a sorcerer – but think little of associating with liars and even participating in listening to the lies and contributing to them by repeating them! What will be the difference on judgment day between the one who lies and the one who receives and repeats the lie, knowing it to be such?

No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” He also said that “every idle word that men speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36).

Nineteen times the Word of God condemns anyone who would bear “false witness” against another person. The ninth commandment of the Decalogue reads: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exod. 20:16). One of the six things that the Lord hates is, “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:19).

Jesus said in Matthew 15:19-20: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” It is evident that Jesus had in mind the sinful hypocrisy of the chief priests and elders whom He knew would charge Him falsely. The Bible says, “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death” (Matt. 26:59).

It is almost beyond our imagination that a member of God’s family would allow his heart to be so filled with hatred that he would “bear a false witness” against another brother. But the reality is that often this occurs. The subtle thing about this is that many times the erring brother does not realize that he has committed this terrible sin. Jealousy and a covetous spirit often are the parents of hatred that causes the sin of bearing false witness. The devil uses this means to destroy the best of human relationships. Sometimes people cannot see the cause of a failed friendship. Their eyes are blinded by the subtle nature of the sin of bearing “false witness.”

Christians should bridle their tongues so that the things they say about others are things that should be said and are true. Even an implication that something is not as it should be, may result in the same consequences for the innocent as an outright lie or “false” testimony.

On Judgment Day there will be no false witnesses. But false witnesses on earth who do not repent will be judged by the strict justice requirements of God!

Our words do mean something. If we properly guard our thoughts then our words are much easier to control – the tongue is easier to control or bridle. This is a matter that requires our constant attention. Leave your thoughts unguarded for one moment and the tongue may bear the gossip or false witness that does untold harm to one in this life, and brings into jeopardy the soul of the one who bears the false witness.

One final and very important point needs to be made. Luke 24:11 records: “And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” We do not have to believe every word we hear. We should carefully sift what we hear and choose to believe and repeat only that which is known to be true. May our Lord help us all to never “bear false witness” against anyone!

Fornication and Adultery
Kerry Duke

God placed desires in us. We have a natural desire for food and water. Desire for the opposite sex is just as natural. God is not cruel in giving us these desires and then telling us not to misuse them. He forbids us to abuse them because these strong urges can destroy us if they are not restrained. God is lovingly protecting us when He warns against adultery and fornication, and so are preachers, parents, and Bible class teachers who warn of these evils.

But the world speaks differently. We are enticed on every side to throw off restraint. Prime-time television is one sexual joke after another. Daytime programs are called soap when they should be called smut. Advertisers can’t even sell a pair of shoes without a lewd scene in a commercial. Even sports events are not free from this enticement. Cheerleaders in miniskirts and hot pants perform lewd dances for an eager crowd. Young and old alike flood theaters to see nudity and to hear the most vile sexual words in our language, and members of the church go in with them. I have never been able to understand such members. What are Christians thinking when they go to see a PG-13 or R rated movie at a theater when that movie is a “comedy”? What do they think the rating is for? Do they care? If the rating is not for violence, then what else could it be for except bad language and sex scenes? One of the “stars” of Titanic is said to have appeared topless in the theater version of this film. Yet some young men, even sons of Christians, went to see such, even with their parents’ approval. You are pouring gasoline on a burning candle when you expose a young man to scenes like this, but parents and even church leaders often don’t care. Going to see a movie is like going to a mall for them; there’s nothing in there that will hurt anybody, they reason. And do we wonder why the gospel has such little effect on people? Our pews are full of members who still have nudity and sex scenes fresh on the mind and the worst four-letter words still ringing in their ears from the movies they watched on Friday and Saturday night. Some of them are so hardened by constantly watching such films that they don’t even consider that they may be doing something wrong. They have become conditioned to accept and even laugh at perversion. One news reporter asked young people what they thought was the funniest scene in a recent movie. Most answered, “The love scene with the two lesbians.” But many Christians who still have a little conscience will argue, “You can’t shelter kids from everything. They have to learn to take the good with the bad.” Why don’t these parents mix garbage in with their children’s plate of food at dinner? Why don’t they stop washing their children’s clothes, since they will get dirty anyway? Such parents need to repent of being weaklings and cowards.

Dating can be extremely dangerous. A young woman and a young man who date have passions they don’t even understand, much less are able to keep under control once a flame is ignited. Parents can hardly be too careful and too watchful about this. I’ve never met parents who were too strict in their rules about their children dating, although I’ve met a lot of these children who thought their parents were too strict – until, of course, they grew up and had children of their own start dating. Let’s not kid ourselves. Sexual impulses in their prime must be guarded as carefully as nitro glycerin. People who date face strong temptation. One touch leads to another before they even realize they’ve gone too far. The innocent becomes questionable, and then the questionable turns into outright sin that brings frustration, shame, and guilt. There is an old saying about dating that once a couple reach a certain level of intimate touching, they very rarely go back to a lesser level. There is a good deal of truth in this. These urges progress instead of digressing. Common sense should tell us that the less time a dating couple spend alone, the safer they are. And it should certainly tell us that they need to be in the light, not in the dark. I do not know why on earth a young woman who lives alone in an apartment would have her boyfriend over to watch a movie until late at night. I do not understand parents who allow their daughter to wallow or wrestle with her boyfriend on the couch or to sit in his lap in their own house in their presence. If these young people are that free and intimate in front of their parents, what are they doing when they are alone? Our society is much more permissive about these things then it used to be. A young man was expected to show respect for the woman he was interested in, and very little touching was allowed by the young lady or by her family. The young man had to wait until marriage to be intimate with her. Now the young man has his way with a young woman, loses interest and respect for her, and moves on to the next woman. All the while his vile friends at work cheer him and a permissive media tells him everybody does the same thing. Yes, the dating game is a dangerous game today. The way most practice it, sexual sin is almost inevitable. This is why a number of books and videos in recent years have called for more of a committed courtship instead of the careless dating most do.

But single people are not the only ones subject to temptation. Married people today are constantly lured to commit adultery. They are encouraged as well on every hand to liberate their desires. The lifestyle of Americans makes this temptation greater. Couples are so overloaded with work that they spend little time together, and the time they do have together is often not enjoyable because they are tired and irritable. They begin to snap at each other more, and their intimate times grow less often. Their freshest hours are spent at work, often with members of the opposite sex. So a woman notices that a man at work listens and pays attention to her, unlike her husband at home who is too busy and too tired. A man is elated that a woman at work smiles at him, unlike his wife who has been nagging a lot. This is where the heartache of broken marriages and homes often begins. Couples today must make each other a top priority and not work and money. They must fight to keep anything – job, friends, sports, or things they want to buy – from taking their time with each other from them. Paul said that husbands and wives are to please each other in the intimate side of their life (I Cor. 7:1-5). If they are selfish and distracted, their temptations will be greater. Few things are as needed today in marriage as simple time together.

Above all, faith in God must be strong. Nobody else was in the house when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. But Joseph knew God was watching, and this kept him from sin (Gen. 39:9). This is faith in the One whose eyes are in every place (Prov. 15:3) and who said, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremonger and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4).