Suffering for Christ's Sake
Glenn B. Ramsey

There is such a difference between the life of the Christian and the life of the man of the world that conflict between the two is certain.  Jesus Christ, our Savior, suffered.  We are no better than He was!  If we follow Him, we will suffer.  Indeed, Jesus told us about this and promised blessings for following Him, even though suffering comes.  In Matthew 5:10-12, He said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

It is possible for people to suffer for reasons other than Christianity.  Some who follow false ways of religion suffer—but this is not a suffering that Jesus pronounces blessed.  Just because one suffers, then, does not mean that he is a Christian and is following Jesus’ Way.

The apostle Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in welldoing, as unto a faithful Creator” (I Pet. 4:12-19).

When the early disciples (apostles) suffered for the cause of Christ they rejoiced!  “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name”(Acts 5:41).  The Lord told Ananias that He would show Saul how he must “suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).  Later Paul stated that suffering with Him would result in our being glorified together (Rom. 8:17).

When Paul wrote the Philippians he instructed them that their duty was not only to believe on Christ (implying obedience to His will) but that they also must suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29).  The apostle Peter learned well His Lord’s instructions (Matt. 5) because he wrote these  words: “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye:” (I Pet. 3:14).

Paul told Timothy that suffering for the cause of Christ was an expected thing.  Paul expressed complete confidence in Jesus’ power to keep His promises.  He said, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Tim. 1:12).

There appears to be the desire on the part of some to try to escape persecutions and sufferings for the cause of Christ.  Many (if not most) church members will try to avoid any kind of conflict that would result from their Christian conduct.  When suffering comes they will whine and cry like small children, instead of rejoicing as men and women of God should!

Truly, one does not go around hunting for persecution and suffering!  As we have stated, just because one suffers or is persecuted does not mean that he is a faithful Christian.  He might deserve the persecution or suffering.  But, on the other hand, when a Christian suffers because he is a Christian, he rejoices.  This puts him in the company of saints of old and in the company of the Lord Himself.

Editorial

It has been my pleasure to be in Christian education for 43 years.  I started Atlanta School of Preaching in 1963.  I started Southeastern Bible College in 1968 and Tennessee Bible College in 1975.  Therefore, I know a little bit about Christian education and the training of Christian workers and gospel preachers.

I wish to share with you some thoughts about training preachers and Christian workers.  You have the privilege of agreeing or disagreeing with me as I share this information with you.  Yes, I know what it is to give all you have to Christian education because we did this to keep Tennessee Bible College going from 1978 until 1992.  This is the best investment I have ever made in my life so do not think I am sorry for what I have done.  We consider it a pleasure and not a burden, and would do it again.

I have not depended on the church to fully support me in life.  Early on I went to Real Estate School and before that was in real estate and in business ventures and investments.  I say very thankfully and humbly before God that throughout my life I have been an independent man depending on no one for by support and livelihood.  Why do I state this in this article?  Because what I shall have to say will carry more meaning with you as you read this material.

I question the type of training being done today by our preacher schools.  Some of them in essence are paying their students to attend.  They give them free schooling, free housing, free support, and free spending money.  Now with this type of handout what kind of preachers will they be when they get out of school and face the real world?  Since they have had free housing, free support, free schooling, free spending money, and automobiles paid for while in school, what kind of precedence do you think this sets for them when they go to work for a local congregation?

I have brethren calling from the four corners of the earth about problems they are having with their preachers.  The complaint made when it is all boiled down equals the brethren are dissatisfied with their preacher because he will not work and he expects handouts.  Brethren, what else would you expect if these preachers have literally been paid to make preachers?  Why complain when they get out of school that they will not work when they have been paid to go to school?  We will not do our children this way.  We taught our children if they worked not, neither should they eat.  We helped pay their tuition for college, but they also had to help pay for it.  I firmly believe that if children are not taught to work, they will not work.  Parents who give their children everything and do not demand that they work are a curse to their children.  Brethren who give those training to preach, everything while in school, are rendering a great disservice to them; this kind of a thing is a curse to them.

At Tennessee Bible College students that need help will get it but they must work for it. There are no handouts at TBC. This principle is not a new principle. Tolbert Fanning was head of Franklin College near Nashville, Tennessee, and he would not permit students to attend Franklin College without their working. Many of the old preachers made their own living and preached for little or nothing. Men like David Lipscomb, Ben Franklin, and Racoon John Smith worked for a living and preached basically for no charge. I believe this answers for why they were men of principle and not hirelings. They spoke forthrightly about pastors and hirelings but they were not against located preachers. They were against unprincipled men who could be swayed in all directions by money and fame and so are we.

We at Tennessee Bible College have done all the upkeep work that we can do and have never spent one dime when we could do the job and it is still so.  Each Friday the faculty puts on their old work clothes, including the President, and they do the work at hand.  We mow the lawn, paint, caulk, stop the leaks, fix doors and windows, plumb, and do all sorts of jobs because this is good for the budget and for the man that does the work.  We expect our students to work and then when they go forth to preach and teach for churches around the world and across the nation they will not be spoiled nor will they expect a handout.  Brethren, think on these things.
—Malcolm L. Hill

Living in a Dream World
David Hill

There are events that happen in life that sometimes take us by surprise and cause a reaction of “I don’t believe what I just saw!”  Often one is witness to a car crash or maybe a plane crash and the above response is given.  The untimely death of an individual will sometimes evoke such a response.  Now, the normal individual moves forward from such an event and realizes the truth as they have just seen and begins to cope with reality.  There have been individuals that just refused to believe certain events as described above actually happened.  Those people who refuse to acknowledge reality have a problem.  They need help, and if this were a family member, you would no doubt seek professional care for the individual.  This would be very appropriate, as you would want your loved one to enjoy a normal life.

What about spiritual reality?  The religious world in general rejects the Bible in one way or another.  This is seen in recent years in the permitting of homosexual preachers by several denominations (most recently the Episcopalians).  Only two cities in the Bible were destroyed without a trace and that was Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19).  What was their problem?  Homosexuality, a perverse unnatural, deviant, and wicked practice is clearly condemned by God (Rom. 1:26-32, I Cor. 6:9-11).  Those who practice such things must repent or perish.  Certainly, they are not fit for spiritual leadership, not by God’s standard.  A generation ago such a practice would not have been allowed even in the denominational world.  How do they justify or get by with such activities?  In part, religious people have chosen to live in a dream world.  They say on one hand, “I can’t believe this”, but they do nothing about it.

In the Lord’s church similar reactions are given to false teaching and false teachers.  Men and women are now giving their consent to instrumental music in “seeker services” (Christian Chronicle, Vol. 60, No. 10, October, 2003, pg. 30).  Instrumental music has been used for several years by some church of Christ congregations on Wednesday night meetings and has often been used for youth rallies (i.e., Winterfest).  While many will talk about it, few will do anything about it.  That is why the practice is getting more and more prevalent in churches of Christ.  Some here in Cookeville will not allow the practice at home, but send their kids to programs that feature instrumental music in worship and speakers that scoff at those who refuse to use the instrument.  How can such be?  They (church leaders and parents) are living in a dream world.  Though not a single word of authority is given in the new Testament for polluting the worship of God with any man-made thing, instruments of music included, members of the church “can’t believe it!” but allow the practice to continue to creep in and ask “is it really so bad?”  That is the dream world.  If they will not recognize the spiritual reality, they are not right,  allowing error to enter into the Lord’s church, and will be held accountable for their weakness (I. Cor. 16:13, Eph. 5:11).

The oneness of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:3-6) is another area where some members of the church of Christ have decided to leave spiritual reality.  They state, “I can’t believe that my mother or father, as good as they were, are eternally lost.”  Were they members of the Lord’s church? No.  Then, God will make an exception for your parents?  That is the dream world.  God said, baptism washes sin away (Acts 22:16), puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3), and saves (I Pet. 3:21).  Peter’s vision revealed that God would not be a respecter of persons in this matter (Acts 10:34,35), and Paul told the Galatians the same thing (Gal. 3:28) and reminded the Colossians of this fact (Col. 3:25).  “My son is not doing exactly like I would like for him to do, but I’m thankful he goes to church.”  That is the dream world.

These are just a few areas to consider.  There are many others confronting the church today.  How will you deal with the issues?  Will you face reality or will you choose to live in a dream world?  One day all will be brought to spiritual reality, but then it will be too late (Rom. 14:11).  I pray that none of us live in a dream world so long as to have to face such a spiritual reality in eternity.

The Pastor System
Malcolm L. Hill

We are not opposed to located preachers because I have been one for almost fifty years. The Bible does not set a time limit for preachers to stay at a place.  I am however, opposed to the Pastor system which has been among churches of Christ. It is very unusual to find a church of Christ that the preacher does not run.  In many cases the preacher does the work of the elders, and the elders do the work of the deacons, and the deacons do not do much of anything.  This is not the plan the Lord had for His church.

But some are quick to say, “we have elders where I attend.”  To which we reply, yes, you have elders in name where you attend, but it is often the case the preacher calls the shots through the elders.  Many elderships are nothing more than puppets on a string for the preacher.  Some elders do not read and study their Bible, they do not keep up with what is going on in the world and in the church.  They know very little about what is going  in our “Christian Universities and colleges," they do not read nor receive Christian journals, and they often are governed by what common sense they have and not by Bible instruction.

It is a fact un-get-overable and undeniable that the Pastor system is well established among the churches of Christ.  What do the Pastors look like and how do they act?  Well, we might say they look like normal people in most cases.  Most of them are social coffee drinkers; they are generally newspaper readers; they hold the hands of the brethren; they have a certain Pastor atmosphere about them.  In most cases they dress pretty good and smell fairly decent.  Their hair is generally combed and their shoes will pass.  They pronounce certain words with a preacher whang.  They generally do not care for the preachers who wear “camel’s hair” and eat “locust and wild honey” because they are of a much softer sort.  They have a fatherly tone to most of what they do and say.  Most of them act sweet and pious.  They talk about the Greek and Hebrew languages but never have studied them and they would not know a letter from the Greek and Hebrew alphabet from a turkey track.

Most of them like to sleep late and watch the late show on television.  They look up materials for their sermon for Sunday morning on Saturday night when they run out of TV programs to watch.  They are greatly opposed to Bible debates and run down those who would stand up for Christ.  They run in their own religious political circle and only have fake Bible conviction when their party is behind them.  Salary is the name of the game with them when it comes to preaching and they love large social congregations.  They are materialistically-minded and generally speak  in low mellow tones with every action controlled when in the presence of others.  The only principle about them is their selfish principle.  If you want the divine description of these Pastors, read Matthew 23:1-33.

These Pastor hirelings will leave a church in the twinkling of an eye if it means they must get into the battle.  They have little or no principle about them.  The only rule they know is selfishness and the only sacrifice they know is the one made for them.  Will the church ever be free of these leeches?  Not as long as the brethren will put up with them.  Many churches do not want a preacher of God to start with and so they are happy with these Pastors since they are the nearest nothing to be found.

Who Hurts the Church?
Malcolm L. Hill

I often hear people say, “that hurts the church.”  There are many things which hurt the church, some of which go unnoticed.  Sometimes people are against the things which help the church instead of hurting it.  Plain gospel preaching does not hurt the church.  Debating in an upright way does not hurt the church.  Book, chapter, and verse preaching does not hurt the church.  Teaching men how to live as Christians does not hurt the church.  Lively singing, praying, and preaching does not hurt the church. Being friendly and mixing with folks does not hurt the church.  A smile on our face does not hurt the church.  Saying “amen” on Bible points does not hurt the church.  Fiery preaching does not hurt the church.  Standing up for the truth does not hurt the church. Many things such as these do not hurt the church.

What does hurt the church?  Malicious gossip hurts the church.  Criticizing good, gospel preaching hurts the church.  Bad examples as elders and deacons hurt the church.  Being insensitive and ignoring others hurts the church.  A sour look hurts the church.  Being rebellious to God hurts the church. Criticizing small matters hurts the church.  Always negative hurts the church.

Making the Bible Fit the Plan
Ronald D. Gilbert

The Bible is the inspired word of God (II Tim 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21).  However, many who claim to believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God twist and pervert the Bible.  Many in the religious world first came up with a theory, then they looked for passages that justify their theory.  When they run across passages that contradict their theory, they try to explain away those passages or sometimes discredit them.  For example, a few years ago a Baptist preacher was on the radio with his daily program trying to show from the Greek that baptism was “because” one has already been saved, not “in order” to be saved.  We had a few exchanges on the radio with him making his Baptist preacher arguments and  answering them.  Finally the discussion centered around Mark 16:16.  We kept showing what Jesus said in Mark 16:16 contradicts Baptist doctrine.  After a few days the Baptist preacher, who was having a very difficult time, said that the last 12 verses of Mark 16 should not even be in the Bible.  He argued that the “oldest and the best” manuscripts omitted these verses and therefore should not even be in the Bible at all.  (Note:  for a good study concerning the last 12 verses of Mark 16 , see David Otis Fuller’s book Counterfeit or Genuine: Mark 16? John 8?)   We asked him if he was willing to use the same reasoning for John 3:16 and whether it should be in the Bible or not.  He clearly was making the Bible fit his plan or doctrine.

I remember also a debate between a gospel preacher and a Baptist preacher a few years ago that I attended.  The proposition was dealing with at what point does salvation occur: before baptism or after baptism?  The Baptist preacher was trying to make the Bible fit his doctrine.  He was bending and twisting the word of God and taking many passages out of context.  He argued that I John 5:1 teaches that “whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. . .”  Then he tied I John 5:1 with Acts 8:37 where Philip asked the Eunuch if he believed that Jesus Christ was the son of God.  He then concluded that Acts. 8:37 teaches that one is saved before he is baptized.   Yet another false teacher in a discussion trying to show that one is saved before baptism and that baptism has nothing to do with salvation, quoted I Pet. 3:21 (or should I say he misquoted it) the following way;  he said I Peter 3:21 says “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not. . .”then he declared “see, the Bible says baptism saves us not."

Not only do we see people in the denominational world trying to make the Bible fit their plan, but also we see this in the Lord’s church.  Holger Neubauer, former Assistant to the President here at Tennessee Bible College, debated James O. Maxwell, Vice-President at Southwestern Christian College.  The propositions read as follows:

Proposition #1 “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.”

Affirm: James Maxwell     Deny: Holger Neubauer

Proposition #2 “The Holy scriptures teach that repentance requires that non-Christians in an adulterous marriage, sever the marriage before being baptized.”

Affirm: Holger Neubauer     Deny: James Maxwell

James Maxwell also makes the Bible fit his plan.  He argued in his debate with Holger Neubauer that I Cor. 6:9-11 teaches that baptism makes an adulterous marriage a scriptural marriage.  One can only wonder what other sins one can be practicing before baptism and continue in them after baptism.  Would baptism make a polygamous marriage right in the sight of God?  If not, why not?  I remember at the Neubauer-Maxwell debate discussing a loophole that those believing Maxwell’s doctrine may grasp one day.  According to Maxwell’s doctrine, any Christian today who is in a marriage that they would like to get out of could divorce their spouse.  Then, after their divorce they could question their baptism, so really they have never obeyed the gospel.  Before he is baptized again, he could marry his second wife,  be baptized and keep the second wife.  Perhaps some might even question their baptism three or four times before finally getting it right.  Again, that is making the Bible fit the plan.

Honest men read the Bible and let it fit God’s plan.  They do not try to twist and pervert the word of God to fit their own agenda.  Trying to find passages to support your position is a backward approach.

Let us love the Bible and study it and always consider the context and the overall teachings of the Bible on any subject.

Advice to Preachers
Kerry Duke

The Bible contains “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (II Pet. 1:3).  It makes “the man of God perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:17).  Preachers teach this truth to others, exhorting, “Let the Bible be your guide.”

Preachers should take their own advice.  Preachers ask themselves questions about their preaching, their life, and their work.  The Bible should be their guide.  What other source of guidance is there?  Yes, preachers can draw from their own experience and from the experience of others.  But the Bible should always be the preacher’s manual.  Obviously, the Bible tells preachers what the gospel is.  It tells us what to preach.  But any conscientious preacher asks himself questions about his work that may not be as easy to answer as questions about the Lord’s Supper or the qualifications of elders.  In answering these questions, he must find principles of Scripture that apply.  He may not find verses that specify the number of times he should say something, but he will find relevant principles.  In general, the more a preacher is filled with the Scriptures, the less these questions will trouble him.  As the Word of God molds his life from the inside out, he will naturally preach what he should in the way he should.  What are some of these haunting questions?

How much rebuking should I do, and how much encouraging should I do?  Am I being too positive or too negative?  The only way to know is to compare your preaching to the Bible.  Look at the preaching of the Old Testament prophets.  Read the preaching of Jesus.  Examine the preaching of Peter and Paul in Acts.  Granted, we are living in different times.  But human nature is basically the same.  In general, we should both rebuke and encourage.  Jesus commended the churches at Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis before He rebuked them (Rev. 2-3).  Paul said to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” (II Tim. 4:2) and to “speak, and exhort, and rebuke” (Titus 2:15).  But how much rebuking and how much commending you do will also depend on the situation.  Jesus had no words of  commendation for Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22).  The book of I Corinthians has more correction than commendation, while the book of Phillippians has more commendation than correction.

Am I stressing the things that are most important?  Preachers confront numerous issues and questions.  Am I addressing the issues that need to be addressed the most? How do I know which topics are most important?  How do I know when to make an issue and how can I determine its degree of urgency and seriousness?  These are weighty questions, but the answer is clear.  We must let the Bible be our guide.  The Bible must be our guide—not our feelings.  Sometimes preachers feel so strongly about a legitimate concern that they are blinded to the overall picture and to other matters that are equally or even more serious.  Preachers also tend to get upset about an issue not because they read the Bible but because they read a brotherhood paper.  They think the matter is a most serious issue because there is a lot being said about it or because a high profile brother says it is an issue.  But other preachers can be notorious for missing the mark concerning the issues that are most serious and the things that should be made issues to begin with.  Read passages like Hosea 6:6, Matthew 23:23, Proverbs 21:3, and Mark 12:28-31 to help you stay focused.  Take another look at I John 2:16.  But in general read the Bible from cover to cover as often as possible.

Am I using the right tone in teaching people?  Some think that as long as you correct people, how you say things doesn’t matter.  Really?  Then please explain I Timothy 5:1.  Others think how you speak is so qualified by the feelings of the person being corrected that you should compromise the truth.  This attitude is wrong.  Jesus showed anger (Mark 3:5), and it is right and natural to be upset over sin.  In general, when you teach people who do not know, have compassion (Heb. 5:1-2) and remember that “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men” (II Tim. 2:24).  Don’t be haughty and contentious with someone who is just trying to learn.  But if they resist the truth, be ready to contend for the faith and rebuke them sharply.

Is it right to use sarcasm or humor in a sermon?  What do you read in the Bible?  Elijah used sarcasm (I Kings 18:27), and so did Micaiah (I Kings 22:15).  But sarcasm was used with people who were hardened in their sins.  It was the exception in God’s preacher, not the rule.  Smart-alec preachers may impress themselves and get a few laughs, but God is not amused.  But what about innocent humor?  Is it alright to use humor in a sermon?  What do you see in the Bible?  You see joy as a normal Christian quality, and you see some humor in some statements.  So use humor as the Bible uses it.  Some humor is fine, but when people remember the jokes told more than the verses cited or when  the atmosphere of the worship assembly becomes so casual and funny that the reverence for God is lost, the humor has gone too far.

What about calling names?  There are two extremes today: refusing to call names at all and calling names in every sermon and article.  Calling the names of false teachers is scriptural (I Tim. 1:20; II Tim. 1:15; 2:17; 4:14).  How often you call names depends on the circumstances, but in general, when you look at your preaching as a whole, you should call names as often as the Bible calls names.

Should I give my opinion in a sermon?  Sometimes in explaining a passage you will have to do so if you are unsure about some details.  Sometimes it is legitimate to give your view on a matter of judgment.  Paul did (I Cor. 7:6-7, 25, 40).  But this is the exception in inspired writers and not the rule, and so it should be with you.  God didn’t put you in the pulpit to state your opinions, but to preach His Word.  If you address a matter of judgment, be honest enough to acknowledge that it is your judgment.  Don’t ride and press matters of judgment with the fervency and frequency that you do matters of Bible doctrine.

God bless preachers to honor the Bible as their guide.

Prayer and Providence
Malcolm L. Hill

The Pantheist believes that God is in everything...the trees, the flowers, the rivers, the rocks, the ocean...everything that exists.  The Deists believe that God is not doing anything today.  They believe that God wound the universe up like a big clock and that it is ticking down, thus He has nothing to do with what is taking place on earth and in what He created.  There are some Deists that believe in God’s providence.  Those who believe in the God of the Bible believe He is still active and very much awake and aware of what is going on.  They believe God is still working and has to do with the affairs of men.

We know that God is not giving revelations as He did in Bible times.  We know that God is not working miracles as He did in Bible times.  Bible believers do not believe in nudges and hints nor do they believe in miraculous visions and dreams.  The days of miraculous visions and dreams has come and gone.  The days of revelations are over and have been for 2000 years—since the apostle John laid down his pen on the isle of Patmos.

Bible believers know that God hears and answers prayer in these days and will as long as the earth stands or until the end of time (James 5:16-17; Matt. 6:7-8; I Thess. 5:17; I Pet. 5:12; Luke 18:1).  Now how does God answer prayer?  This I do not know nor do I know of anyone that does.  The Bible does not tell us about this.  We have some brethren today that are extreme Deists—their position about God and His working pushes them into Deism.  They are saying that God does not work in a direct way today in any way.  They say they do not believe in the supernatural work of God today.  Let us look at these things.  Does God work today in a direct way when it comes to prayer?  If He works at all today, it has to be direct somewhere along the way or how could He work?  Some brethren are afraid of the word “direct” and the word “supernatural.”  God can work today without it being a miracle.  In fact, He does work today in prayer in a direct way but it is not a miracle.  I ask God to be with me every time I preach the gospel.  Is He with me?  I ask God to strengthen me as a Christian.  Does God strengthen me?  Iask God to bless me with good health. Does He hear my prayer and does He answer it?  Someone says, yes, God answers prayer but only through natural things.  Now what does this mean?  Does God do anything for me today?  And if He does bless me through “natural means” then this is an affirmation that He is still doing something some way.  And if He is doing something for me it has to be direct somewhere along the line in some way.  How could God do something without doing anything?  To say that God can do something for me without doing anything is crazy non-thinking.  And yet, we have brethren who are affirming such nonsense.

Now what about divine providence?  Divine providence says that God works His will at times through natural processes.  Divine providence is not miraculous providence.  Supernatural providence is not miraculous providence.  Any working that God does is supernatural and not necessarily miraculous.   How does God take care of me through His divine providence?  I do not know nor do I know of anyone that does.  Does God work in a direct way in divine providence?  How could He work if He did not work in a direct way somewhere along the line?  Again, how could God work but not work in a direct way?  Some of our brethren need to wake up and stop this nonsense about how God works.  God says in His holy Bible that He works.  Let us believe His Bible and stop causing trouble about HOW GOD WORKS.  If I did not believe that God still works in my life today, I would stop praying and I certainly would not believe in His divine providence.  To deny that God is still working today is but to turn to the only other alternative—cold, dead inactive theology which would be a deathblow to the church of the Living God.

These brethren teaching that God does not work anymore in a direct way at times in providence and prayer had better not teach that to most of the church because they would be rejected by most members.  Not only is this so, but they reject the plain teaching of the Bible and this is serious.