GUY HUNTS WRITINGS

ELD. GUY HUNT’S

WRITINGS

2007

Elder Harold Hunt

P O Box 5352

Maryville TN 37802

PREFACE

This volume is a reissue of The Best of Elder Guy Hunt, which we first published in 2007. We are putting this new edition forth as a tribute to him, and a source of instruction and encouragement to those who read its pages. I, personally, wish there was more I could do to remind our people what a great debt of gratitude we owe to him for his faithful and courageous service. Making this book available is the least I can do. I especially thank Elders Sam Bryant and Heath Williams for their introductions to the book. Their comments speak for themselves.

Some time in 2006, I asked Brother Guy Hunt if he would allow me to search back issues of his paper, the Pathway of Truth, and publish a volume of his best articles. He was one of our best preachers, and ablest writers. For more than forty years his paper was an inspiration to our people, and I felt that we needed a bound volume of his writings. In years to come our people will need his advice, and his observations, as much as this generation has.

He very graciously gave me his permission, and as soon as he provided me with the back issues, I immediately began the task. I soon discovered what a task I had taken on. Searching through forty-four years of back issues was not the problem. It was very time consuming, but reading so many of his articles was too gratifying, and too uplifting an experience, to be a problem. The problem was that it was virtually impossible to find anything I was willing to leave out.

There was no way we could publish all his articles in one volume. We wanted to hold the book to such a size that those who begin to read will not be discouraged by the length of the book. I was firmly convinced that his material needed to be preserved. The decision we made was to use a roughly equal amount of material from his earliest and his latest issues. For that reason the title of the book, The Best of Elder Guy Hunt, is somewhat misleading. There can be no doubt that some of his best writing is not included, but I have made what I think is the simplest decision.

If you read carefully you will soon discover that his emphasis, his priorities, and his points of view did not change over those forty-six years. They are the same in his earliest and his latest writings. That in itself is encouraging.

More than that, you will discover that he was not afraid to take on timely, and pressing, issues. He never wavered. I am sure that he had no idea how much his wise observations benefitted me personally over the years. I am sure there are many others who could say the same. He was firm in his presentations, but he was as gentle as the seriousness of those subjects will allow him to be. Oh, that we had more preachers who could demonstrate both qualities. We need more such watchmen on the wall.

His determination to be such a watchman was fully matched by his genuine compassion for the Lord’s people, and especially, for his church family. Even if someone should disagree with virtually every doctrinal principle he stood for, no one who was around him, or read his writings, could doubt his concern for the welfare of his people. If you will pardon the homely and outdated analogy, his love for the Lord’s people reminds me, for all the world, of grease in a gourd. The grease on the inside will find its way through.

Another surprise came in the organization of the book. I had intended for the book to be somewhat equally divided between his life experiences, his devotional articles, and his exposition of the doctrine. Over the years I have heard him tell many times of his experiences with others around him, but I never realized that his anecdotes were always for the purpose of making a point. He very nearly never wrote about any personal experience unless he was making a point. So those comments are found both in his devotional and his doctrinal articles.

The first part of the book has to do with his life experiences, but it is the very shortest part of the book. When he wrote about himself, even then, it is usually for the purpose of telling, not about himself, but about those near and dear to him. He had an especially close relationship with his mom and dad. This book is not about them, but we have taken the liberty of recording his comments at their deaths. I really do not think it would have been appropriate to leave those comments out.

The bookstores are filled with books on marriage enrichment, as they call it. Those of us, who knew Guy and Helen during almost all their married life, were inspired by the close and tender relationship they had, both during the darkest, and during the more joyful times. Their life together was, indeed, a case history of marriage enrichment. Those who knew them, and did not learn the lesson, were not paying attention. There is more space in the life experiences section devoted to his life with her, and her tragic death, than to any other subject.

Equally inspiring is his finding happiness since Helen’s death. His new wife, Anne, was such a blessing in his life. If there is more space devoted to Helen than to Anne, it is because he and Helen were together so much longer.

Sister Anne’s devotion both to Guy and to his afflicted daughter, Pam, was obvious for all to see. Guy told me that his greatest concern was in finding someone, who would count Pam to be a blessing, rather than a burden. Frankly, looking at that from a practical point of view, it looks more like an impossibility than a challenge. But Anne is clearly that person. I cannot fail to see the providence of God in it all.

We have included an article in which Guy talks about the ordeal he went through, because of false and scurrilous charges made against him while he was governor. We cannot begin to imagine what that was like. Alabama never had a more honest and faithful governor, and they never had a governor more grievously mistreated.

None of us are able to fly, but God sometimes carries us on eagles’ wings. God is able to bring us through problems that are impossible to surmount. During that difficult and shameful time, God carried a faithful, and innocent servant, on eagles’ wings.

Finally, we have included an article in which Guy talks about his final illness. There were hundreds of people all over the nation, pleading with God on his behalf. His faith in God, and his acceptance of his will, whatever the outcome, was inspiring to us all. The treatment in Tulsa helped, but the time finally came when God saw fit to release him from his suffering. We grieve, but it is for our loss. Our loss is his great gain. What a glorious view that good man must even now be experiencing to see our Lord face to face.

Again, I appreciate the very gratifying opportunity to preserve a small collection of the writings of our good brother.

Eld. Harold Hunt

GUY HUNT MEMORIAL

A Prince Has Fallen in Israel

2 Sam. 3:38

On January 30, 3009, Elder Guy Hunt’s spirit departed from his frail body about 3:30 in the afternoon after a long battle with cancer. As he neared the moment of departure from this world his wife requested we sing one of his favorite hymns, written by Elder R.H. Pittman. “The Lord has been so good to me; I want to sing his praise.” Brother Guy had joined the saints many times in worship on this earth. Now his spirit was free to join that heavenly host and praise and worship God in perfection.

As we viewed his lifeless body, it was good to know his suffering was over. He had fought a good fight, and he had finished his course. He had kept the faith, and he had received an honorable discharge as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. His death is a great loss to so many, but for him, it is a great gain. “To depart and be with Christ is far better.” I was happy for Brother Guy. These words came to my mind as we waited for the funeral director? “There shall I bathe my weary soul in seas of heavenly rest, and not a wave of trouble roll across my peaceful breast.”

However, I felt a great sadness as I contemplated what his death would mean to Primitive Baptists. He never wavered from his devotion to the Cause of Christ among Primitive Baptists. His love for Christ and his courageous defense of the truth all through the years caused Primitive Baptists to love him and trust him. He was very thankful to be Primitive Baptist, and he was never happier than when he was with them in a good gospel meeting.

On June 14, 2008, a large number of people met at Mt. Vernon Church to celebrate Brother Guy’s 75^th birthday. We also honored him that same day for 50 years of faithful service as an ordained minister for the Primitive Baptists. According to 1 Timothy 5:17, we are able to give double honor to those elders that rule well and labor in the word and doctrine. During those fifty years Brother Guy had earned the honor Primitive Baptists bestowed on him.

The day after his death, I received this note from a Primitive Baptist in North Carolina. She said, “We heard that Brother Guy passed away; although I am glad his suffering is over, and he has gone on to see that face he so lovingly and eloquently preached about for so many years, I am saddened by the loss of this man and what he meant to Primitive Baptists from coast to coast.”

Brother Guy was also loved and respected by the people of Alabama. He was constantly being asked to conduct weddings and funerals by people of many different faiths across the state. He was known in the neighborhood where he lived all his life as an honest and hardworking man. He was a farmer. In his younger days, he cut pulpwood to help provide for his family. He ran chicken farms. He sold Amway. He raised cattle. He loved to work in his large fruit orchard and vegetable garden. He loved life, and he enjoyed his work on this earth.

On February 4, 2009, there was a state memorial service held at 11:30 A.M. at Snead State Community College in Boaz, Alabama. It was estimated that there were over 1,000 people in attendance. The present governor of Alabama, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, along with other state officials, spoke at this service and honored him as a great statesman. Each one spoke about the contributions he made to the state of Alabama while he served as Governor. He was remembered as the country preacher who became Alabama’s first Republican chief executive since Reconstruction in 1872, helping to create a two-party system in the state. It was stated, “As governor of Alabama, he took a hands-on approach to recruiting new industry to Alabama, and, in his first year in office, was named one of the nation’s top governors by US News and World Report.” One of Brother Guy’s favorite slogans was, “Alabama is open for business.” According to these state officials, Alabama prospered greatly during his administration and he was re-elected to serve a second term.

I was moved to tears as these high ranking officials explained how Brother Guy had been unfairly treated during his second term and was removed from office in 1993. They told about the full pardon he received in 1998 based on his innocence. They reminded us that those politicians responsible for Brother Guy being removed from office were voted out of office during the next election. The Secretary of State said Elder Hunt “was a man who was falsely accused and wrongly convicted because of partisan politics.”

A state historian had asked Brother Guy how he would like to be remembered as the governor of Alabama. He said, “The thing that would thrill me the most is if every fourth-grade student in this state who reads Alabama history someday will have the understanding that I was an honest governor, who ran an honest administration, and would not knowingly violate the letter or spirit of the law. That’s what’s important to me.”

The state memorial service lasted for one hour. There was a brief intermission, and then we met for the funeral service at 12:30 P.M. Elder Hunt had requested that Elders James Isaacs, Heath Williams, and I conduct his funeral service. I spoke first. I mentioned two of the defining qualities of his life; humility and gratitude. He was clothed with humility, and I never knew a more grateful man. I spoke briefly about a lot of the blessings He had received from the good hand of God, the greatest being the gift of eternal life through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

I concluded my remarks by describing how clear he was in preaching the truth. He did not speak with a forked tongue. He was set for the defense of the gospel. He stood like a stone wall. He never compromised on the essential doctrine of our faith. He used his considerable influence to defend the truth. He stood in love, but he stood, and having done all, he stood. I believe he would have stood by himself, if necessary, for the truth he loved. He loved peace among the churches, but not at the expense of truth. Such men are invaluable to the church.

Elder Isaacs spoke from 2 Timothy 2:10. He talked about some of the things Elder Hunt had endured for the elect’s sake, that they might enjoy a temporal salvation here in time in addition to eternal glory. He showed how this salvation in time is conditional on the minister’s obedience to endure whatever is required of him and go wherever providence leads him. It is also conditional on the children of God obeying the gospel. A lot of God’s children were saved from many of the evils and deceptions of this world through Brother Guy’s faithful preaching of the Word.

Brother Guy loved and defended this truth concerning conditional time salvation. He wrote those words in his introduction to the book, The Best of Elder Guy Hunt, published by Elder Harold Hunt in 2007. “Thus, when people began to assail the doctrine of a time, or now, salvation, based on our obedience, by saying it is a tradition that only has been believed by our people for less than 100 years, I not only have the Bible to prove they are deceivers, but I can go back more than 100 years with those of my own family to show the things most surely believed among us.”

Elder Heath Williams, Brother Guy’s grandson, spoke lovingly about how, during his childhood, he thought his grandpa would always be around. However, he pointed out that he knew Brother Guy was a sinner like all of us, and he needed to be saved by the blood of Christ. He spoke of that great day when Jesus Christ will return to this earth and his grandfather’s body would live again, free from all disease and sin.

During the service, a group of Primitive Baptists sang some of the great hymns of our faith. Those hymns were beautiful and brought comfort to those who mourned, knowing Brother Guy would have been very grateful for the speakers and the singing and for all those who attended.

His body was laid to rest that cold windy afternoon in the cemetery beside Mt. Vernon Church to await the second coming of Jesus Christ. At the grave-side Elder Dicky Halbgewachs read some scripture and offered prayer. There was a 21-gun salute. “Taps” was played. We heard “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes, and the American flag was folded and presented to his son, Keith.

Beloved, although this dear man’s body is asleep in Jesus and his work on earth is over, many of us will continue to reap where he has sown, and the memory of his faithful service in God’s kingdom will live on. May his life of devotion to Jesus Christ and to the church inspire us to be faithful until death.

I would encourage everyone to please keep his wife and family in your prayers along with Gum Pond and Mt. Vernon, the churches he loved and served for so many years.

In loving memory,

Elder Sam Bryant

Remembering Elder Guy Hunt

Words cannot properly express the mixed emotions that I have in writing of the passing of my grandfather, Elder Guy Hunt. My grandfather was delivered from his fight with lung cancer when he passed from this life on January 30, 2009, at the age of 75. Our family certainly rejoices in knowing he is no longer suffering with the pain and sickness that came with fighting cancer over the last 3 years. We also are saddened with the great loss of such a wonderful pastor, husband, father, grandfather, and brother in Christ. We most of all give thanks to our Lord for blessing our lives with his presence and for the hope of seeing him in glory at the resurrection. I am thankful that my grandfather is now blessed to be in the presence of the Savior Jesus Christ that he so lovingly declared for over 50 years. He understood that he was a sinner, and he believed, as the apostle Paul stated in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

Elder Guy Hunt was born on June 17^th, 1933, to the family of Elder W.O. Hunt, and Sister Orene Hunt. He united with Mt Vernon Primitive Baptist Church in August, 1946, and he was blessed to be at Mt. Vernon for over 62 years. He was blessed to marry Sister Helen Chambers in February, 1951, and they were blessed with 53 years of marriage until her passing in 2004. They were blessed with four children, who are mourning my grandfather’s loss today. Elder Guy Hunt was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings, and by his first wife, my grandmother. He is survived by his second wife, Sister Anne, sons Keith Hunt and Cary Smith, daughters Pam Hunt, Sherrie Williams, Lynn Harris, Judy Gurly, and Lois Swindal, sixteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a wonderful church family that not only includes the two churches he served for so many years, Mt Vernon and Gum Pond, but countless other Old Baptists throughout the country. He was blessed to pastor Mt. Vernon for over 50 years, and we as a church give thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessing us with a precious pastor for so many years, and we will greatly miss his counsel and fellowship in the days to come.

My grandfather lived the example of loving his lord, his family, and his country. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, was elected Probate Judge in Cullman County, and was elected Governor of the State of Alabama in 1986. I certainly remember as a child the great blessing of seeing how he was not only devoted to his state, but most of all to this Lord as he continued to serve both churches while he was Governor. We were reminded of the effect he had on our state when state leaders spoke concerning his life at the State memorial that was held before his funeral. His funeral service was conducted by Elders Sam Bryant, James Isaacs, and me. One thing I hope to remember to tell my children in the future about my grandfather, Elder Guy Hunt, is that he was faithful in every area of his life. Being faithful was the main lesson he always taught me as my father in the ministry, and I will definitely tell my daughter that he was faithful to his Lord, his family, and his country.

During the last 3 years of his life, my grandfather was blessed to be married to Sister Anne Smith. Words can never express how thankful I, our family, and the churches at Mt. Vernon and Gum Pond, are that he was blessed to have her in his life. After he lost my grandmother, our Lord blessed him to find another wonderful woman that took such good care of him during his fight with cancer, and she motivated him to keep going. We as a church will always be grateful to her for caring for him and driving him to Oklahoma over the last 2½ years. Elder Guy Hunt will be sorely missed by us at Mt. Vernon, but we hope to follow his example and be faithful to the cause of Jesus Christ and give thanks to our Lord for his life and look forward to when we will see him again in eternity.

Elder Heath Williams

INTRODUCTION

When Elder Harold Hunt shocked me by telling me he wanted to print many of the articles I had written in The Pathway of Truth in a book, to preserve them for future generations, I knew he placed greater worth on my little writings than I do.

I began when I was a young minister, all because I thought our congregations needed to be provoked into learning more about the doctrines and practices of the Bible. Remember, at the time I began to publish the paper, most churches were still meeting once a month, not more than twice. Then too, I was a young man, and the older ministers were so much better learned than I was. I must admit I have learned much during these years as a result of my meditation necessary to write articles. On one occasion, I pulled an old issue of the paper from the file, and began to read an article that caught my eye. As I read, I remember thinking, I do not know who wrote this article, but he sure had good understanding of the subject. When I got to the end of the article, I saw it was written by Guy Hunt. I did not recall having those thoughts on the subject, and did not remember writing the article.

There is much merit in reading the writings of our elders over the generations. We must always remember that the only rule of faith and practice is the written Word of God. But, there is merit in preserving writings of the past, especially if we cannot remember writing an article we have written. I do hope you will find me consistent over the years.

From the Old Testament to the New, there is much written about teaching our children. “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon; for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents, Songs 1:7,8.

Footsteps show us the path to follow. The doctrine of the Lord never changes. In studying the Word of God, I have paid particular attention to the path my forefathers have traveled, to make sure I am in the paths that show the footsteps of the church.

My father, Elder W.O. Hunt, his uncle, Elder Henry Hunt, and his brother Elder Macon Hunt, were all Primitive Baptist Elders, and my grandfather, John Hunt, was a licensed minister. My mother’s side also had many ministers. My grandfather, Elder R.J. Holcombe, my great grandfather, Elder George Holcombe, were Primitive Baptists elders.

I find no inconsistency in their teaching, and mine. I believe I am walking in the footsteps of the flock. Thus, when people began to assail the doctrine of a time, or now, salvation, based on our obedience, by saying it is a tradition that only has been believed by our people for less than 100 years, I not only have the Bible to prove they are deceivers, but I can go back more than 100 years with those of my own family to show the things most surely believed among us.

Paul gave us admonishment in Timothy. “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you,” Phil. 4:9.

Many writings of the last five hundred years, written during great turmoil among the Baptist family are precious. Many others, even by noted scholars are unsound and denote the divisions of thought at the time. But, amidst such diversity of opinion, the truth has always been taught by the true Baptists. I believe I have lived in a time of some of the greatest preaching gifts in the history of the church. Such spiritual giants have fought for, and ably taught the truth.

In all my years of labor among God’s people, there is one scripture which is a true test, that can tell you whether a person is sound in doctrine, or not. This scripture is applied the same by Arminians, Absoluters and extreme Calvinists. Only Primitive Baptists believe it the way the Apostle wrote it. That scripture is Romans, 8:28. When a person is willing to add to the five things the Apostle wrote about, they can add to, or take from, most any other scripture of the Bible. In my opinion, if you want to walk in the footsteps of the flock, you will not add to the five things the Apostle writes about.

For those who read the writings of this poor sinner, saved by grace, either now, or in generations to come, apply the above test and resist unsound brethren, and remain firm and faithful to the doctrine of Christ. I pray your happiness in the Lord, and I hope by his grace to have the sweet privilege of being with you on that wonderful day, praising God around the throne of heaven. With love for the cause of Christ.

Elder Guy Hunt

PART ONE

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

The Purpose of the Pathway of Truth

It is not the purpose of this paper to compete with any of the able church papers now being published among the Primitive Baptists. If I did desire to compete with them it would be impossible. I could never hope to equal them in editing a paper, much less to exceed them. Certainly our people have the most able writing possible in The Primitive Baptist Light, Good Will, The Christian Pathway, and The Baptist Witness, to name those most familiar to us. However, more than 90% of those receiving this paper do not now, and have never received a church paper.

For many years, as I have read the many good articles in the church papers, I have thought how wonderful it would be if the papers could go to all who are interested in the truth. That costs much money and the papers could not afford it. I am sending this paper free of charge, either now and in the future, to those that receive this first issue. If I see, at any time in the future, I must discontinue it, I will do so without begging for any funds.

Many of you are away from home, and not privileged to attend church as you would like. I hope you will take this paper as a letter and greetings from home.

A great portion of these papers have come to you who are not members of the Primitive Baptists. I rejoice in the fact that though we will not all ever live in the Primitive Baptist church, all the redeemed of the Lord, no matter where they belong, or whether they belong to anything or not, will rejoice with God in heaven. However, I have rejoiced much at God’s mercy to me in the church. I desire to let it be known, to the praise, honor, and glory of God. Given the desire also to show the beauty of the old church to all those who bear the evidence that God has been gracious to them, I believe God’s children should live a godly life inside the church. It is not the purpose of this paper to disturb anyone, but instead to comfort God’s children. However, if the truth disturbs, may God through the doctrine of truth being taught, remove the hindrances that prevent God’s children from seeing and believing the truth, admitting the truth and embracing it.

The Pathway of Truth will be small, but large enough, I believe. May God bless our writers to write articles that are reasonable, short, and yet point out the truth.

I would like for this paper to be a pleasure and a benefit to each one that receives it. If it should not be, please let me know, and the paper will be stopped. If I know the impression of my own heart, I desire to follow God’s guidance, and that his will be done. Pray for this poor boy, and may God bless us one and all to be established and founding walking in the Pathway of Truth. (May, 1962).

Personal comments

I was born in Cullman County, Alabama, on June 17, 1933. My parents were Elder and Mrs. W.O. Hunt. In August of 1946, I united with Mt. Vernon Church. In February of 1951, I was married to Helen Chambers. We have 4 children. Pamella is 14 and retarded. Sherrie is 12, and united with the church at the age of 8. Keith is 9 years old, and Lynn is 5.

I began taking part in the service at Mt. Vernon Church in 1953. Elder W.O. Hunt, Elder E.B. Watts, and Elder W.M. Cook were the pastors. I entered the U.S. Army in 1954, and served until 1956. I was ordained in September, 1958, to the work of the ministry.

At the present time I am serving as Judge of Probate of my home county of Cullman, a county of 50,000 population. This court deals with the Probating of wills, guardianships, adoptions, and mental and emotional disturbances.

I am at the present time the pastor of 3 churches. Mt. Vernon in Cullman County, Alabama, meeting on the 1^st and 3^rd weekends. Mt. Joy in Blount County, on the 4^th weekend, and Gum Pond in Morgan County on the 2^nd weekend.

Like many others, I cannot tell the time I first realized I had a love for the Lord. My first notice was a dear love for the church. I do not know when I first began to note a fear that I was called to preach. I do recall a time at the age of 15, when one of our elders was left by himself on Saturday. He asked several of the brethren to introduce service for him.

He did not ask me. I was very glad he did not, for I found at that time my thought was, if he calls on me I must get up and do the best I can. From that time forward, I carried a heavy burden until Elder E.B. Watts asked me to take a part in the service when I was 19.

Since that time I have tried to do what I was called upon to do in serving God’s people. Many times I become discouraged, but never in the notion to quit. I find there to be a fire shut up within me, from which I find no relief except in the service of God’s people and praising him. I hope I am not deceived in the entire matter. The Lord has been good to me. (Jan., 1969)

AFFLICTIONS

A few days ago I was reminded that God could have prevented the three Hebrew children from being cast into the fiery furnace, but he did not. But he was with them in the midst of the furnace. See Daniel, chapter three.

This knowledge will unravel many mysteries as to why some of those the most afflicted seem to feel closer to God. He will never leave nor forsake us.

When I was growing up, I always wondered why a girl in my class was always the sweetest, most polite of anyone, in spite of her affliction with polio. She walked with the assistance of a brace on her leg, and yet each morning, if there was a smile anywhere in the room, it was hers.

For years I had the privilege of being with and preaching with a wonderful elder in the bounds of the Second Creek Association by the name of L.V. Goodman. He was in my home on several occasions, and I always marveled at his love of the scriptures and of people. His physical afflictions caused him to have both legs amputated, and one arm. This wonderful brother was on my mind so much that I told Helen I wanted to take a day off to go see him. I was Governor at the time. We found his home, and knocked on the door. I heard him say, “Come on in.” We walked into his room. There he was on the bed. The most wonderful godly smile was upon his face, and he called to his wife to come here, the Governor has come.” I spent quite some time with my brother that day, and came away praising God. This dear brother, with two legs and one arm gone, would raise the other arm up and say, “Thank God for this arm, I can still shave myself.” There is no doubt in my mind that God never left him in his afflictions.

As you read the poem in this issue by Brother Shorty Smith, you ought to know of what his faith and love of God, and his people has meant to me. Brother Shorty has been stricken with cancer in his mouth and throat. He first had to have part of his tongue cut out, and later the rest of it removed. He cannot talk or sing, and yet he is always at church rejoicing in the gospel message. He taught me much about gardening. He loves to garden, and yet he himself cannot eat a bite of the things he grows. We still share information, but his must come with pencil and paper. Notice in his poem he says, “But the singing that I do now is shut up within my heart.” God has richly blessed all of us to know him, and God will never leave or forsake him.

When I faced my great trials in the courts, I could not believe that such could happen to an individual in America. Yes, I knew God could have prevented it happening. Yet, I have seen such great miracles as God has never left or forsaken me and Helen. Over the next years he has touched the hearts of thousands of people in Alabama, and across America, to help us financially. We have had around six hundred thousand dollars to be given in my defense. I could have never foreseen such love and compassion among so many God-fearing people. While it shames our state that it costs so much for an innocent man to be finally found innocent, it glorifies God, for without him I would surely have been overcome.

Even today, as I go around the country, there are so many who tell me of their daily prayers for me. They tell me of their love and respect. Young children approach me in restaurants for my autograph. Typical was a letter I received from Charley Camp who ran a boy’s club in Dothan, Alabama. He said he held me up to his boys as an example of a man, who through the blessings of God overcomes things that would destroy most men. He held me up as an example of the kind of honesty and integrity they should follow. I believe I can truly say that God was always with me, even in the midst of my greatest sorrow.

The school that our retarded daughter attends has many afflicted people. Often, one of the children will tell us that their mother or daddy has died. It just breaks your heart until you realize that this special individual is the apple of the eye of God. He will never leave or forsake them. The God who can prevent things happening will be with us in our affliction and bring glory to his name.

All this reminds me of something that Elder Harold Hunt told someone at a capital rally held for me in Montgomery in those dark days following my conviction. He told them that all my suffering would be in this world, while those who rejoiced in this act would suffer eternally.

Job, in the midst of his affliction was looking forward to that wonderful day when we shall see the face of our God with our own eyes. A day where there will be no more affliction and sorrows. As I see the afflicted minds and bodies of those children at the school, I rejoice in knowing that God came to perfect each of us, and there will be no afflictions in heaven. No afflictions of polio, of amputations, cancer, wrongful conviction, or afflicted minds.

Unlike many describe the end of time as being something to fear, it will be a wonderful day. I asked Helen a few days ago if she ever thought how wonderful it would be to wake up some morning and Pamella, our daughter will be relieved of her affliction. She said she thought of it often. While I realize it will not happen here, there will be a morning when it will. That is the reason, that on the morning of the resurrection, our King and Savior will descend from Heaven with a shout. All of his people will give great shouts of joy also. (Jan., 2000)

FALSE WITNESS

God gave the commandment concerning false witnesses to Moses in Exo. 20:16, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Proverbs speaks of the things which the Lord hates, and are an abomination unto him. Pro. 6:19, “A false witness that speaketh lies.” In Matt. 26:59, the leaders and chief priests actually sought false witnesses against the Lord. “But found none; yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”

Mark 14:56, “For many bear false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.”

The courts of the land require a true witness. They do not allow testimony based on hearsay evidence. In other words, your information must be first hand. You must have been present, or heard or saw with your own eyes the things to which you are testifying.

I remember being the victim of false witnesses during my persecution. It was said I had hidden several hundred thousand dollars in the children’s bank accounts. When the press asked about this, I laughed and told them if anyone could find it, I would give them half. Nevertheless the Attorney General got all the bank records of the children back to 1970. Now, the people who bore false witness to this likely heard someone else suggest or make the accusations. Even though they may have been sincere, it was a lie, and they were bearing false witness and telling a lie.

When you have two witnesses (people testifying without first hand knowledge), they rarely agree. We really must be careful to avoid being a false witness, and one that the Lord hates, by not repeating the things we cannot verify with first hand knowledge. It sometimes is called gossip.

I remember Dad telling about a couple that the wife was always talking about something or someone she had heard something about. The husband, a godly man, would say to her, upon hearing one of her tales, “Now give your source.” He knew she often talked with another person, who was always telling wild and untrue tales.

Most talk about what someone has said or done is usually evil and unnecessary. But, if good brethren find it necessary to communicate for the good of the cause, they still need to discuss only first hand information. We do not pass along second hand information without bearing the responsibility for the accuracy of it. If it is false information, and we repeat it, are we any better than those mentioned in Proverbs, who were not just false witnesses, but false witnesses who lied?

It has always been true that the people who could tell more about what Primitive Baptists believed were those who had never attended a service at a Primitive Baptist church.

If someone tells you something I or any other person has said, done, taught, or believed, find out if they are true witnesses or false witnesses. Find out if they were there. Then, for the good of he cause, if it is so bad an alarm needs to be sounded; go and find out first hand before you begin to spread it, for it is an awful sin to bear false witness. Notice there are many sins we consider to be terrible, that are not mentioned in Proverbs, chapter six. To be a false witness is a most terrible sin. (Nov., 1998)

CAN IT BE

Can it be fifty years since I held that little farm girl’s hand and pledged my life to her in marriage? I had watched her grow up, and although my parents loved her parents so dearly, my mother and father loved lots of people. He was one of the pastors of the church. I well remember the day she joined the church and was baptized. We were members of the church together, but we had a lot of young girls at our church.

Then one day it was as if my eyes ere suddenly opened from blindness, or like the night had been turned into day. I looked at this girl I had seen most of my life. She was beautiful, had a sweet personality, and she actually smiled with her eyes. I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. It was just a few days until our first date, a month until our engagement, and six months until our marriage. It was a good, yet miserable six months. I could not be satisfied unless I was with her every moment. I had never been in this shape before.

Her life has never been dull. I do not know where the last fifty years have gone so fast, especially the last twenty-five. Neither of us realized we were growing old until one day we heard an advertisement on the radio that said we were old enough for a senior citizen discount. We have had many hardships and trails, but those are almost forgotten, when we remember how good the Lord has been to us. So many times we have been on the mountaintop.

My life has especially been wonderful. I’ll have to let Helen speak for herself. Although I know she has faults, I have come to believe she has the least of anyone I have ever known. She has been to me an angel who lets me know how much God must surely love me. In my darkest hour, her tender arms around me strengthened me, so I knew that God would deliver.

On Sunday, February 25^th, 1951, my father performed the wedding ceremony at nine o’clock in the morning. He went on to Gum Pond to preach while we visited with Helen’s family.

Now fifty years later, we will be in service with Gum Pond Church and come back to Mt. Vernon Church lunchroom for our celebration from two to four in the afternoon on Sunday, February 25^th. The celebration will begin at the little church where both of us have been members for over fifty years. (Jan., 2001)

NEEDFUL

I opened my eyes and looked around. I realized I was in the hospital recovery room. The first thing I thought of was the scripture which had been on my mind for several weeks, especially after the doctor had suggested I had a malignancy in the middle lobe of my right lung. Phil. 1:23,24, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better; Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” The Lord, by his grace had blessed me to remain. Someone remarked, “Your work is not yet done.”

I hd never thought that I would be praying that surgery could be performed, because that was the best alternative. I had visited my first cousin a week before I went to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. His lung cancer was all over his lungs. He was weak and the treatments he had received had not benefitted him. In fact, he was buried this week.

As I, Helen, and our children, Sherrie, Keith, and Lynn entered the heart-lung transplant center to see a world renowned surgeon, we had no idea what the outcome would be. I had already had a brain scan to see if it had invaded my brain, and a full body pet scan to see if any other malignancies were found. Dr. Odell said, “I will check your lymph nodes to determine if it has escaped out of the lung. If it has, I will not do surgery, for it would not benefit you.

When I was put to sleep, I was aware that one more lymph node would be checked before he would proceed. Shortly before awakening, the brilliant, kind man stood over me and gave the news. “Your surgery was successful. I have removed the middle lobe of your right lung only. You will not notice any difference in your breathing, for that lobe had already shut down. I think you have an excellent opportunity to be healed without further treatment.” Many of you have gone through similar trials. Some received good news and some did not. I had every reason to be thankful to God for his blessings.

I did not have anything in the Pathway last month as I expected to quietly see the doctor. When it made its way onto the Internet, and the press got word, everyone seemed to know. I thank the many hundreds of you who sent cards, donations, messages, and phone calls, and most of all for remembering me in your prayers. It is hard to know how many wonderful God-fearing friends we have among the Lord’s church family. I also received many cards and prayers from churches who were not Primitive Baptists.

Paul considered his stay to the benefit of God’s children. Could it be that poor sinners are appreciated and needed? We sometimes think our usefulness to one another is over. Yet, as long as we live, we have duties to perform, which are not grievous to be borne. There is nothing more pleasurable and satisfying to God’s born again child than to be among his saints in this time world. I have thought many times of the young ministers in my home church, and tried to thank God for those who will fight the fight of faith after I am gone. But, like the mighty armies, sometimes the young need mixed with them, old veterans, who have been under machine gun fire many times before. I certainly appreciated them in my day.

I sometimes forget that God said, “You are of more value than many sparrows.” To think that the God of glory would look upon poor sinners in love and tell us of our value. Every person God loves with an everlasting love is of great value. Christ came into the world to save them. He keeps them as the apple of his eye. His desire is toward us. His grace is always sufficient. We are so precious to him, that no power can pluck us out of his hand. We are not separated from him by death. Our value to him is such that he will come back for these bodies someday with a shout.

You and I have every reason to be encouraged in the midst of afflictions and sorrows. Though we cannot know the next step ahead of us, we know we are engraved in the palms of his hands, and our inheritance is sure in him.

What time I have left, I would pray that I would show kindness, be tenderhearted, forgiving, and fervent toward the Lord’s people. I would desire to always be a lover of peace, to put out fires, not start them among our people. I would desire to be known as a peacemaker.

Also I would beg for strength to be faithful and vigilant upon the walls of Jerusalem, and be uncompromising on the doctrinal points of the faith, which was once delivered to the saints. (June, 2004)

IT’S OUR CHOICE

As Helen and I left the home of Brother Shorty and Sister Anne Smith, we had some moments of weeping as we suffered with them, yet we felt so uplifted to be loved by such wonderful people and to love them and suffer with them in their time of affliction.

Brother Shorty has had cancer for over twelve years. In that time he has had to have his tongue removed and many surgeries that left him without the ability to talk or to eat. He continued to make a garden for the family and to attend Vestavia Church in Birmingham. His faith has not wavered. The doctors all wonder at his longevity.

Why would anyone choose to suffer afflictions and sorrows with the family of God? Elder E.B. Watts once told me that he had baptized more people as a result of being with them in their time of sorrow and distress, than as a result of all his preaching.

Moses made a choice by faith. Heb. 11:24-26, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of reward.”

Life is not all sorrows. There are many wonderful blessings when we are on the mountain top. You see, we had just returned from Little Union Church at Lithia, Florida. Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. and I had been asked to preach this meeting. Such a wonderful people, and such love for the cause of Christ. These people have made their choice by faith to live close to God and to suffer one another’s afflictions. Brother Ray Carlton was in the hospital following surgery. Brother Gary Cunningham, Sr., was having double vision and will undergo further testing. Many were there with their walkers, and others were limping from strokes, and recovering from cancer and other treatments. Yet, here was a group of people, who are saying by their lives, that they love the Lord Jesus and as a result, love each other.

God blessed the meeting with the presence of his sweet spirit. I was able to forget all the troubles of life as I concentrated on the glory of God. Four young people united with the church on Friday night. The baptism was a time of great rejoicing. Elder Steve Wilkinson, their pastor, said that some people would put up a sign that they were going to have a revival, and yet they could not know until it was over, whether the Lord would give them a revival or not. Primitive Baptists know what a revival is, and we had a revival at Little Union.

Brother Ronald and Sister Faye Cobbs drove us to Florida. I had the privilege to perform their wedding ceremony over 44 years ago, long before they united with the church. God has blessed me to be the pastor at Mt. Vernon Church for 46 years, and Gum Pond for nearly 40 years. I have spent my life with the most wonderful people in the world. I have baptized many and then buried many of them, but the time the Lord has blessed me to sit in heavenly places still amazes me.

Amidst it all, God has given me a wonderful life. I am thankful to have felt his presence in my youth and following my Lord in baptism. I have heard thousands of sermons and preached many. I have baptized many. I have performed many weddings. I have washed the feet of many of the Lord’s saints.

Could I have walked a different path in life? Absolutely! Many of the Lord’s children do. But, what a horrible thing to do, and what an empty life that would be to live.

It is no wonder that once, when the press asked me, what else I would wish for, I thought of my Savior, my precious wife, my little natural family, my church family, my many friends, and knowing how wonderful God has been to me, I told them I could wish for absolutely nothing else.

Is it any wonder the song writer wrote, “The Lord has been so good to me, I feel like traveling on?” (July, 2004)

HELEN HUNT

As I write this issue of the paper, I hope you will not think I am giving Helen the glory that is due unto God. She would want me to tell you she was a poor sinner, saved by grace.

She was unaware of the effects that her spirit and charm, her ready smile, her smiling eyes had on those she came into contact with. She was not only loved by her church friends, but she was loved by millions of people who knew her as Alabama’s first lady. God gave her something that not many people have. A woman told me once, “I have never met your wife, but I can tell when she walks across a stage on the TV, that she is a sweet person.

Since the Pathway began, Helen has been a part of it. She has been the secretary and bookkeeper and has mailed and helped mail it all these years. I would like the readers to be very aware of what I knew about this one, beloved of the Lord.

Helen Ann Chambers Hunt

My sweetheart and wife, of over 53 years, passed from this life into the arms of her loving Lord on November 22, 2004, at approximately 4:15 p.m. She died as she wished, in the full assurance of faith, knowing her absence from us would make her present with the Lord. She had signed papers to prevent a feeding tube, Intensive Care Unit, CPR or ventilation. She had always said she did not want to die in an intensive care unit with strangers, but with her loving family. Me, Sherrie, Lynn, and Keith were holding on to her when she left us. Her granddaughter Ashley, a brave young lady, was also with her. Her brother, Hulen Chambers, and wife Jean were also with her.

After almost two years of knowing what was in store, we still wanted her to remain with us, if she could have any quality of life. She and I discussed early in our marriage that neither of us ever wanted to be without the other. Somewhat in jest, I told her, that since she was a year younger, if she would live to be 99, and I to 100, we would die together. Sometime, on Friday before her passing, she told me she would hate to have to live 29 more years like she was.

Since October 5^th, either myself or one of the children was with her every moment. Our whole goal was to keep her as comfortable as we could. She very sweetly thanked us time and time again for being so sweet and attentive to her. She did not know it was not a chore, but a joy, to do all we could for her. She had asked many times to just go to sleep and wake up in heaven.

Knowing her body was exhausted, using every muscle in her body to breathe, I bent down over her, and thanked her for fighting so gallantly to stay with me and the kids all these years. I told her that we wanted her to stay as long as she could be comfortable, and have some quality of life, but we would not ask that she stay longer than that. I will never forget as she raised her hands to touch my cheeks, I felt like it was a touch of heaven. Since she continually wore an oxygen mask to give her pure oxygen, her little forehead received a lot of kissing from all of us.

Friday was the last day she received all the nutrients she needed she still took some food and water Saturday, but not enough. She began to have a lot of difficulty swallowing in the weeks leading up to this time. She did a lot of talking Saturday. She even asked for her glasses, and watched a little of a ball game. About midnight Saturday night, I heard her move, and raised up from the couch to check on her. She was looking at me, and waved her hand at me.

She was a sweet example of a Christian soldier in the face of her greatest enemy. She wanted rest from her toil and pain. She knew the sweet promises of her Lord. I left for a few minutes Sunday morning to shave and shower. About ten o’clock, Keith called to tell me she was having much pain, and the doctor wanted to give her some relief. I tried to pray to the Lord for mercy. The doctor who first diagnosed her said there is not anything pretty about this disease. We understood she meant much suffering at the end. When I arrived back at the hospital, the doctor arrived at about the same time. He prescribed medication for her. She only had to take this medication for about 30 hours, instead of days. As she and I had discussed many times, I never left her side until the end, except to roll our special daughter Pam into the room to tell mother that she loved her on Monday morning, the 22^nd.

Thirty minutes before her soul took its flight, her breathing was soft and gentle and the children and I, though our hearts were breaking, kept quiet while the Lord took her soul and spirit to rest where she’ll never feel pain again. As she wished, she went gently to sleep and woke up in the presence of the King of Kings.

The funeral

We had agreed that since we had spent all our lives at our little home church, Mt. Vernon, rather than leaving our bodies at the funeral home, we would have the visitation at the church, so our friends could see the humble little place that was our life.

Beginning at two p.m. on Thanksgiving day, friends started viewing the body. From then until two o’clock Friday, we figured between twelve and thirteen hundred people came by. Since our little church would not hold the crowd, we put a large screen TV in our lunchroom, and one on the front porch, so that everyone could be a part. The church and lunchroom were both filled and there were many in front of the church.

Governor Riley and his wife were in attendance, as was the Attorney General and two Congressmen, Rep. Spencer Bachus, and Rep. Robert Aderholt. Th floral arrangements were beautiful, and the singing was soul touching. Elder J.L. Hopper led the singers.

The Lord blessed me to do something I would never have thought of doing. More than a year ago, Helen dropped a bombshell on me. She said, “I want you to preach my funeral.” She did not say can you, or will you; she just told me what she wanted. I not only had been married to her for 53 years. I could think of no greater compliment that could be paid, than that this wonderful woman, who had heard me preach hundreds of sermons, would want me to say the last words. I would tell her many times that surely I could not be all bad, or the Lord would never have given her to me.

Elder Sam Bryant was in charge, and read the obituary, and had prayer at the end. Her grandson, Elder Heath Williams, offered an able opening prayer. Then Elder Gus Harter, who she loved dearly, spoke. After I finished, her nephew, Elder Darrell Chambers, had the closing prayer at the grave.

She is survived by me; daughter Pam, daughter Sherrie, daughter Lynn, and son Keith; by seven grandchildren, Elder Heath Williams, Eric Williams, Kelly Williams, Nigel Hunt, Nolan Hunt, Ashley Hunt, and Kayla Knop. Four of her grandchildren were members of the church with her. She is survived by one brother, Hulen Chambers and wife Jean, by a brother-in-law, Martin Key, and a sister-in-law, Johnny Copeland. She was preceded in death by her father, Homer

Lee Chambers; mother Mettie Talley Chambers; two brothers, Billy and Pat Chambers; and her sister Betty Chambers Key.

More than conquerors

Helen believed in the sovereign work of God. She did not believe that God brought this disease of pulmonary fibrosis upon her. She was fully aware that the great physician in heaven could intervene if according to his will. In that she was like the Hebrew children before they were cast into the fiery furnace.

Her condition was brought on by the aging process all our bodies go through. It did not work for her good, nor did it work for the good of her family. Sure, she is with her Lord. But, she is with her Lord because of what he did for her, not because of her pulmonary fibrosis.

Rom. 8:35-37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?….Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

The United States and other nations conquered Germany and Japan in World War II. Many of our soldiers were conquerors, but not more than conquerors. Two young men from Mt. Vernon Church died on the battlefields of Europe. They did not come home to enjoy the fruits of the battle. We are not only conquerors of those things Paul mentioned, but we are more than conquerors. Cancer, heart attacks, strokes, or pulmonary fibrosis, cannot hinder us from the benefits of the battle that Christ fought against sin. The battles we fight here are fought through Christ. We fight our battles, knowing that all of his will reach safely home and enjoy heaven’s glory based on the battle that Christ won, not on our battles. Nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ, not even death.

Forsake not assembling together

Heb. 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

I hope the churches at Gum Pont and Mt. Vernon, who loved Helen with all their hearts and have been a part of her life, will remember the last message she sent by me to you. “Don’t neglect going to church, for the day will come when you cannot go.” She told me that laying in the bed with her oxygen mask on. She was thinking of how short life is and how much so many miss by being neglectful of their duty to give go praise.

We took our last trip together to Little Union Church in Florida on the fourth weekend in July, this year. The Lord richly blessed us to enjoy this time together. It had been six weeks since I had my lung surgery and she was rejoicing at how well I had done. Her last trip to church was the second weekend in September to Gum Pond Church for the association. Oh, she started to get ready several time after that, and would not give up until she realized she would not have the strength to go.

All the years she so faithfully praised her Lord were not enough for her. She wanted to praise him more. She can now do that face to face with the Savior.

His star in the East

The east represents the dawning of the new day. The wise men had seen this star and very evidently understood something about the promise of a better day.

Our little cemetery faces the eastern sky. Helen wanted to be buried in the lower part of the cemetery. He body lies just one mile from where she was born and grew up, and where she was married. This church is where she spent her life.

But, the burial facing the eastern sky is evidence of her fond belief that Jesus will someday descend from heaven and there will be the dawning of a day like we have never seen before. This day will have a dawn, but will never have a sunset. When Christ shall descend with a shout and the souls and spirits will be reunited with a body made like unto Jesus and carried home to be with the Lord forever. As I visit the grave site, I know where her spirit and soul are today, but I also know there is something special in that old dust that Christ paid for, and is coming back for. That grave where I laid my love to rest is only a temporary site. The body also belongs to the Lord.

Kinship

I often called Helen Sister Helen. The reason for that is, because of the joy of knowing that our kinship is closer and more lasting than a husband and wife. Those ties are broken by death. She is my sister in the Lord, and as such, our tie in the Lord will ever remain unbroken. By these ties I look forward to seeing her face in heaven.

Newspapers

Every newspaper in the state that I have read gave glowing remarks about Helen. I will [here] reprint one of the articles from the Cullman Times, which shows how her light shined to all who knew her.

Helen Hunt was a great southern lady

She was, by some measure, a simple woman. Her life revolved around husband and children. She never even finished high school. She liked sewing and cooking and helping her husband. But to define Helen Chambers Hunt as somehow unfulfilled, or lacking a certain sophistication, would be so very wrong. People should be measured by their actions, not their resume. Helen Hunt measured up.

She was a strong woman, who conducted herself with grace and charm. For 50 years she had been a mother and friend to her oldest child, Pam, a special-needs daughter impaired at birth and destined to required lifelong care and attention. That was a life she would call good, if it had ended there. But three more children came along, then life as a politician’s wife, seven years as Alabama’s first lady, the indignity of seeing her beloved husband removed from office in disgrace, then helping to rebuild their lives on their Holly Pond farm. Through it all, by any definition or criteria, Helen Hunt was a woman of class. Ask her friends.

All use the same terms to describe her: lady, class, Christian, sweet, kind, cheerful, optimistic. Her death Monday at age 70 was the result of pulmonary fibrosis, a degenerative disease that robs the lungs of their capacity to breathe. It had to be debilitating and sad, but her friends never saw that side of her. She never asked for pity. She only cared about her friends and family she would one day leave behind.

Mrs. Hunt chose to live her life in the background of her husband, through his career as Probate Judge, candidate for governor and governor. She didn’t really want him to seek a second term as governor, but backed him up when he decided to do it anyway. His conviction in 1993 — he was later pardoned — that forced him from office was a low point, but she refused to become embittered by it, relying on her faith and love to get her through. She was the wife of an ordained minister, but she was a woman of great faith and resolve, too. That faith got her through her most troubling times and, surely, made her able to cope with her disease, even knowing what her faith would be.

She is at peace now. Her legacy will be her great charm and love of life, her vitality and grace under pressure, her devotion to family and friends, her commitment to causes like the handicapped and suffering, her smile and her genuine love of life. There are too few great Southern Ladies. We have lost another one. (Nov., 2004)

GOODNESS

Psa. 27:13, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

David was a man of war and fought in many battles. His enemies were always out to destroy him, his own son tried to kill him and take the kingdom, and he sinned a vile sin.

Many a person in our country has had a beautiful breakfast with the family in a nice, comfortable home, then return in the evening after a tornado to find the house destroyed, maybe even loved ones had perished, his life changed forever.

A young woman seems to have everything going for her, a handsome husband, beautiful children, a nice home, a comfortable income, then her husband comes home some evening and tells her he wants a divorce to marry another woman. She feels she will never be happy again.

Since the beginning of time, husbands have given up their wives, and wives their husbands to death. Many have felt their life ended, that there was no need to go on. We come in each situation to be near fainting. After surveying the situation, I have seen many people stand on a pile of rubble that was their home, and declare the intent with God’s help of rebuilding on the exact same spot. I have seen many a woman, after being mistreated and divorced and abandoned, find that after some time a man would come by, who would treat her like the queen she was.

I did not know how I would cope with losing a wife. I had such a life that I would often tell Helen that I could live with her always in this imperfect world, and never tire of her presence. Mine was a marriage of tranquility and peace. I was a very happy man. Then suddenly, all that is gone.

I have had to look at her favorite clothes, her favorite jewelry, her shoes, her sewing machine and instead of weeping that she no longer is here to use them, rejoice that God gave her to me to enjoy these 54 years. Now, when I take a pack of peas out of the freezer to cook, I rejoice in thinking of those precious little fingers which shelled them, knowing they would probably be for me and Pam.

I had always rejoiced in the fact that in Heaven there will be eternal joys. That has always helped me over the troubles of life. I have so often been comforted by the lines of Amazing Grace. “And when this heart and flesh shall fail, and mortal life shall end, I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.”

I think that as Christ looked beyond the cross to the joy that was before him, we in like manner look beyond this life of tears to the eternal joy.

But, just this week, God reminded me with the words of David, that the same God, who has been so good to me in the past, has revealed that his goodness never ends. David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” Psa. 23:6. Why should I have been so shallow to think that all my happy times were over? That I would never rejoice in his goodness in this life again?

After Moses had found the children worshiping a golden calf, the Lord showed him his goodness as he placed Moses in the clift of the rock. I am sure it seemed to Moses that all his efforts had been in vain in delivering the children of Israel from Egypt. Moses saw much of the Lord’s goodness after this event.

I do not know what future I have. But this I now see. The goodness of the Lord will never end as long as I live. Why should I think that the Lord, who has been so good to me, would turn his back now that my sweetheart is gone. I know there will be times I will weep, but I believe I would be ungrateful to a merciful and good God for his many blessings, if I failed to rejoice in how good he has been to me.

Helen and I have often wept with joy, when we heard our special child sing, “The Lord has been so good to me, I feel like traveling on.” It is a marvel of God that a little special retarded girl can understand this truth in her soul, when I had overlooked it for many sad days.

I am not alone. Many have lost loved ones recently. I pray that God will bless you to remember that the goodness of God has not come to an end. A life in this world has. Just a few days and we will join them in a place prepared for his children. Right now, we need to sing, “The Lord has been so good to me, I feel like traveling on. (Dec., 2004)

PAMELLA

The most inquiries about the family which I receive are about Pamella. She is handling the passing of her mother better than the other children. She is at home with me. She goes to school each day, and she goes to church each weekend. She is happy.

God works in mysterious ways. Usually when we were away on a weekend, she would ask about us hundreds of times. The day after Helen died, I got down on my knees in front of her and told her that mother had died, and went to Heaven to be with the Lord, and we would not have her with us any more. The expression changed on her face; a big tear rolled down one cheek, and from that day she has not asked where is mother. I firmly believe the Lord has given her greater peace in her soul than those who consider themselves normal.

During Pamella’s routine physical, the doctor found a suspicious mole. A biopsy suggested it was pre-cancerous. She will have further surgery on her foot on the 30^th of March to remove all the roots. We are so thankful it was found in time.

I have two good sisters who help me with her, so that I can carry on my duties as a minister. I am still able to travel and to go to visit the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, because of them, as Pamella requires constant care. One meets her bus three days a week, and the other stays on weekends when I go out of state.

I love her with all my heart and soul. While caring for her is sometimes difficult, I consider that I am highly favored from heaven to have the privilege of caring for one of God’s special children. I rejoice that everything I do for her, I am really doing to, and for my Savior.

When you see her at church and she says, “Home with Pam,” you might well consider how special you are to have that invitation. She and I will continue to have our company in our home. It is one of life’s greatest blessings, and we do not want to be denied this privilege. Just remember, when you come, we are learning to cook, but I can fix a great breakfast.

Pray for us and come to see us. I have learned great lessons from Pam, as I have often listened to her sing, “The Lord has been so good to me.” (March, 2005)

Guy Hunt and Anne D Smith to Marry

The Lord willing, I am to marry Anne D. Smith, longtime member of Vestavia Church in Birmingham, on October 14, 2005. The wedding will take place at Vestavia Church at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited. We will not send out invitations, as we know so many people; we could not mail to all we would like. The wedding will be a simple wedding, without attendants, and will be performed by her pastor, Elder Sam Bryant.

Anne and I both married our childhood sweethearts. She was married to Willaim A. “Shorty” Smith. She married at 16, as did Helen. I was 17 when I married. I had 53 years of marriage and Anne had 51 years. Shorty and Anne had two daughters and a son. They had seven grandchildren with another due September 4^th.

Helen and I had a high regard for Shorty and Anne. During the 14 years he battled cancer, I was often at his side in the hospital. He had requested that I hold his funeral when he died. They were both dedicated to their church, being there every time the doors were opened. They traveled to other churches to attend services and were always having company to spend the nights with them.

When Brother Shorty died, I did as I always do when I hold a funeral. I call the widows to encourage them, and let them know my prayers and thoughts are with them in their great loss. I did the same for Anne. Sometime after Helen died, we began to comfort each other. Neither of us had any intention at that time to remarry. Anne was very clear that she would never remarry, so I felt free to try to encourage her as she encouraged me.

Neither of us understand how, or when, we fell in love. In addition to our love in Christ we had held all the years, there was now something personal between us. We did not plan it this way. She had her children, and I had mine, especially my special daughter Pam, to whom I had long ago dedicated my life to caring for her. We feel it had to be a blessing from the Lord that we came from grieving ourselves every day with the thought that our life was really over, to wanting to live to be with each other.

I knew Anne was a wonderful, God-fearing wife and mother. I had seen her dedication to her mother, and then to her husband, who spent his last years without a tongue or voice box. I did not know that she would consider my special daughter, Pamella, a blessing instead of a burden. Many good people would have looked at it differently. It is a blessing from the Lord to be blessed with the love of two wonderful women in one lifetime.

Please pray for us. We have both spent our lives with the Lord’s church. We want to spend the rest of our lives serving the most wonderful people in the world, with each other at our side. Anne and I have come to the conclusion that our love for each other does not dim the sweetness of the memory of the lives we lived with out childhood sweethearts. God richly blessed us in the past, and he is just as able to bless us in our life together.

Praise to the Lord of glory for his wonderful blessings to poor, unworthy sinners. (Aug., 2005)

The Opinion

/Inoperable Cancer

Over the last many years I have often heard the words delivered by doctors that the cancer is inoperative, incurable, and time is short. I am sure all of us have meditated on what would be our reaction if we ever heard those words concerning ourselves.

On January 17^th at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, I heard those words. I had not felt good for some time, but visits to the doctors could not pinpoint the problem. X-rays and cat scans were subject to differing interpretations. Finally, with fluid drawn from a cavity surrounding my lung, it was determined there were cancer cells in the fluid. It was, therefore, ruled a stage four cancer.

As my wife Anne, and I headed back to our motel room, we both were thinking alike. Only God knows our condition and how long we will live. Every case is different and we intend, by God’s grace, to have many years together. Both of us had suffered tragic losses in the last two years, and neither of us wants the other to go through that again so soon.

We decided to disregard that opinion. Our faith and hope blessed us to overcome many obstacles along the road of life. Feeling the need to go on with our life as we meditated on a course of action, we headed to the North Georgia Fellowship Meeting at Bethany Church in Atlanta. What a wonderful meeting and such fervent prayers for me. How unworthy I feel of such love and concern. As the word went out, I soon found that I was being prayed for by thousands of people all around the world. Most of all, I was the subject of the prayers of God’s special people, his church.

As these prayers continue, We are going on with our life, filling my appointments, and being with God’s people. This past weekend I had the privilege of being with Union Church in Ruth, Mississippi. We have plans to be in Texas at two different churches in June.

We plan to go to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas to see what kind of treatment they would recommend. I expect to hear on January 31^st, what day they will expect me. I ask again for the prayers of God’s children. James 5:15 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Anne asked me just what that meant. I told her it meant a prayer with such passion, tears and feeling that shows a heart filled with love that God always hears. It is also a prayer that is not just asked once, but continually, because God is not worried with our continued crying unto him. It is a prayer that asked that God’s will be done.

When we feel to be in God’s hand, we know that whether we live or die, God is the deliverer.

Since I had fallen behind a month with the Pathway, I have asked four brethren to help with the writing of some articles: Elder J.L. Hopper, Elder Sam Bryant, Elder Adam Green, and Elder Heath Williams. I am happy to report that these wonderful brethren have responded and I now will be able to get both January and February to the printers.

Among all your prayers, let us all pray that God will give us shepherds to lead his flocks, who will lead them down right paths, paths that are not paths of destruction. May he give us gifts willing to stand against all manner of false doctrines from whatever source. (Jan., 2006)

My Cancer Treatment

Much has happened since I was diagnosed with the return of my cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. I first went to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas in February. I found that the trial treatment they offered was also given at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, which was much closer and with less travel expense than Houston.

In March they did another CT scan, and found that the cancer had not grown. I had many nodules, but they were all small. They suggested that I might want to consider waiting a couple of months. In May, they found the cancer had grown some, and suggested I begin treatments. Before I could begin, I was stricken with pneumonia, and was treated at the Huntsville, Alabama Hospital for a week and then sent home, where I received IV antibiotics for another two weeks. You can imagine how weak I was. I told Anne that my feet weighed 50 pounds each. I regretted missing my appointment with Elder Hartsell Cayce in Arkansas the first weekend in June. I have doubts I would have survived much longer without aggressive treatment.

This postponed the beginning of my treatment for the cancer. It was the 11^th day of July, before I took my first treatment at Vanderbilt Hospital. At this time, the doctor reminded me that I could receive the same treatment closer to home, since I had opted out of the test program.

After much prayer and thought, and a call from Brother Gene Guger of Rocky Mount Church, who is undergoing lung cancer treatment, I made an appointment with the Cancer Treatment Centers of America at their Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital. I found a different environment there than anywhere I have been. They treat the whole person. They combine the chemical treatment with natural needs. It was here that I found out how much protein I needed each day to maintain my muscles and weight.

There is never a discouraging word heard. I heard many people say there were given two or three months to live, when they arrived at the facility. Many of them are returning for check-ups after five or ten years. I do not know the outcome, but I feel uplifted and confident I am in a place of caring people. After one of the doctors examined me, and we talked for 45 minutes, he asked me if he could offer a prayer. He prayed a sweet prayer, just like you would expect from a Primitive Baptist elder.

Anne and I returned home August 3^rd, just in time for Mt. Vernon’s Annual Meeting. We had the privilege of having Elder Sam Bryant, and Elder Ronald Lawrence with us and in our home. What a joyful time. Many of the elders, to whom I have such close feelings, attended from other churches. I am afraid if I try to name them, I will miss one. The visitation was extraordinary.

I am indebted to the individuals and churches for the many get well cards, the many love gifts, the many prayers, which have been offered in my behalf. With a wonderful wife and children, and so many who love and pray for me each day, it has certainly given me the strength to fight and to live, if it be God’s will.

I was privileged to visit the sweet people of Oklahoma during my two weeks there. On the fourth Sunday, Anne and I visited the sweet little church at Broken Arrow. This was the Sunday Elder Adam Green was with the church. He insisted I take some time, and I enjoyed my efforts. The fifth weekend we traveled to Duncan, Oklahoma, where Elder Dennis Kreie is pastor. This is a mighty sweet couple. They were so good to us. Elder James Isaacs and Elder Cal Kennedy were with the church. They asked me to preach on Saturday morning, and then we traveled to Oklahoma City, spent the night with Elder Bill and Sister Sue McCarthy. He insisted I do the preaching Sunday morning, and I was blessed to have strength to do so.

I am to travel to Tulsa every three weeks for treatment. In the meantime, I do not know what the future holds for me in this world, but all I know to do, as long as I have strength, I want to carry on the life I have been blessed to live for 60 years among his people.

Please continue to pray for me and my little family. The Lord is not worried with our long crying and prayers to him. I love you dearly and thank each of you for such love as you have shown me. I am further convinced this is life’s best pathway. May God bless you and keep you is my prayer. (July, 2006)

A TRIBUTE TO MAMA AND PAPA

Going Home

Our national day set aside to honor mothers has always brought to my mind the thought of going home. It was always a comforting thought to be able to go home, when the day was done and the body was worn and torn. It was a place to sit down at a prepared table and feel the love from Mama and a place to rest from the weary journey of the day.

When I grew older and married, I remember the pleasure of going home to Mama and Papa’s house. There was always such excitement in the heart and anticipation of seeing my loved ones again and feel the embrace of love and tenderness. On one such occasion we surprised Mama. I had been in the army, and she thought I was a thousand miles away, when I drove up into the yard. I will never forget the look on her face and the tender arms around my neck. All the way home from Kansas, all I could think of was going home. Living next door to Mama and Papa was such a pleasure and I entered that house many times. It was never a chore or something I dreaded. It was always easy to go home to Mama’s.

When Christ told the man who had been bound with fetters and chains to go home to his friends, he was to go to the home of those who loved him, tell them what the Lord had done and confess he had compassion upon him.

The percentage of those who return to give God the glory, or go home to a house like Mama’s is low. When Christ cleansed the ten, there was only one, who turned to give God the glory. In the days of Nehemiah, there was one in ten who lived in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine in other cities.

Neh. 11:2, “And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.”

Many pastors used the scripture in Isaiah, Sunday.

Isa. 66:13,“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” My question has always been to those who are reluctant to come home to the church, since the comfort is what you find with your mother, why do you find it difficult to come home to the church? What would encourage you to forgo this comfort?

Having a home to go back to, and a mother with loving arms, is still a stability in my life today, even though Mama has been gone 36 years. Time and time again in the experiences of God’s people, the house of worship has always been the stability that holds their lives together. Yet, the biggest percentage of God’s children are living in the wilderness and enjoying the pleasures of prosperity in the world to the exclusion of the simple comfort like unto sitting on Mama’s knee while she consoles us.

Mama and her love are still a comfort today. Christ and his love are everlasting. I always had great joy in being near Mama. The only stability I have today is being near my Lord and Savior. Lord, may I never be hesitant to come home to your house. (May, 2006)

Elder and Mrs. W.O. Hunt

Elder Hunt was born in Georgia in 1892 and moved to Alabama in 1913. His father was a preacher in the Primitive Baptist church in Georgia. His mother died when he was very young, leaving him with the many hardships of the household that many of us have escaped. Not only was he left without the tender love of a mother, but he had the responsibility of younger children in the family that had to be tutored. Sister Hunt is the daughter of Elder and Sister R.J. Holcombe, Sr. She was born in Cullman county in 1894. According to the church records her father and mother were charter members of Mt. Vernon Church. She has loved singing since very early childhood, when she and her older brother would sit around and sing the old hymns.

They were married in 1913 in December. They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, and were deeply appreciative of the many people that came, some from great distances. They joined Holly Pond Church in the old fellowship Association in the 1920’s. He was ordained a deacon. In 1936, they united with Mt. Vernon Church by baptism. He was ordained a minister and has been one of the pastors until the present time.

They have lived to see five of their children unite with the Primitive Baptist church. Mrs. Lessie Taylor and Henry Hunt of Birmingham, and the writer are members of Mt. Vernon Church. The other two boys have moved away and lettered out to other churches. Grover is a member of Gum Pond Church. Owen is at present a member of Phoenix

Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lives for his health. My brother, just older than me, died when an infant.

Their oldest son, Alvin, was killed in an automobile accident in Georgia in 1952. He was a strong believer in the doctrine preached by the Primitive Baptists. My fondest memories of him to this day are the many times I saw him rejoice in God’s grace, and the discussions we had about the beauty of the old church. He was the most talented of the children in everything he did. But of all his talents, which included carpentry, electrician, mechanic, any musical instrument, the sweetest thing I can remember was the heart touching way he could sing any part to the sweet old church hymns. Though he never joined the church, there has never a stronger believer on the outside of the church and he could clearly show up the folly of all the man-established religions of the world.

I have no changes that I would recommend for them to make in their lives. Of all the things I could think of that parents might be in life, the greatest treasure to me is the faithful way the live in the church. The weather never got too bad, nor the cotton too grassy for us to go to church on Saturdays and Sundays. They never asked the children to say at home and work, while they went to church. We always knew when meeting day came, everything else took a back seat. As is usually the case where people do not have all the material things of life that are often needed, I have always had the desire to do many things for them to help them along. But you can guess the rest. Whenever any help is needed, it is always I. But somehow or another I have the feeling that what will make their heart rejoice the most is not a new automobile or one of the most modern houses that children of great wealth might give parents, but to know their children are at church on meeting days.

Matt. 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will you heart be also.”

A Prince has fallen

(By Elder Gene Thomas)

Dear Sister Hunt and children, as the news of the death of dear Elder W.O. Hunt was conveyed to me, the thought came to my mind that truly “a prince has fallen in Israel.” I shall ever be grateful for the privilege of hearing him preach and converse about the goodness and mercy of God our Savior. The memory of these things will always live on in my heart. My poor words are inadequate to be of comfort, but I know that the power of the One that Elder hunt faithfully served (and he also dwells in you) will say to you, “My grace is sufficient,” and you will be enabled to say, “It is enough.”

Yes, there will be a vacancy here on earth. Yet, the glorious hope of the resurrection (which was so strongly believed and sweetly proclaimed by Elder Hunt) answers that there will be no vacancy in the family of God. It is my humble prayer that the words recorded in 1 Pet. 5:10, may be fulfilled in your lives, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. In deep sorrow. Elder Gene Thomas.

* * * * *

Elder W.O. Hunt, born November 21, 1892, passed from this life, October 9, 1967. He leaves to mourn his passing, his beloved wife, Orene Holcombe Hunt and five children: Mrs. Lessie Taylor and Henry Hunt, Birmingham, Alabama, Elder Owen Hunt, Prescott, Arizona, Elder Guy Hunt and Grover Hunt, Cullman. Preceding him in death were two sons, Hubert in 1927, and Alvin in 1952; 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grand-children; one sister, Mrs. Evie Smith, and a great host of other relatives and friends. Elder Hunt has been a member of the Primitive Baptists since the early 1920’s, and has been a member of Mt. Vernon Church since 1936. He was ordained to the ministry in 1939. Since then he has served many churches in the Mt. Zion Association. At the time of his passing he was a pastor of his home church, Mt. Vernon, and Gum Pond Church. For the past two years Elder Hunt had been Moderator of the Mt. Zion Association.

Mama is gone

Those chilling words came very forcibly to me as I had watched her these last few days, and then draw that last fleeting breath. It was November 30, 1970. She was in the hospital, as she has been so many times these last years. Trying to stay near her doctor these last few weeks, she had not been at her trailer in my yard, but in Birmingham with Lessie and Henry.

And to show her final love, she was blessed to come home to church at Mt. Vernon the 1^st weekend in November, and to vote for my re-election as Probate Judge on November 3^rd following.

She was different to any other mother, because she was my mother. Sure, Mama had her faults, but when I think of the toil, the tears, the love, the guidance she has given me, I can’t seem to remember her faults.

She was born Orene Holcombe, April 16, 1894 to parents who believed in God and his sufficient grace. Her father was Elder R.J. Holcombe. As if this was not enough, she married my dad, Elder W.O. Hunt in 1912. During the time that Dad got his hand hurt in the gin, they raised their family, and attended and united with Turkey Hop Church in the Fellowship Association. In 1936, they united with Mt. Vernon Church and lived faithful.

Mama could sing beautiful, and with the love and under-standing she had, this made the grand old songs send chills up your back when she sang.

She couldn’t justify any excuse for a person not attending church. If someone said, “Mama, do you really feel like going to church today,” she would answer, “I’ll feel worse if I don’t go.” And if there was someone careless and would absent themselves from their church, she would say, “They just don’t know what they are missing.”

Now that she is at rest, I cannot think of anything that would please her more than for those she so dearly loved to dedicate their lives to the truth, faithfulness to the church, and the living way of praising God. I feel that was what she always tried to tell us, when she would shed those tears, and you could tell she was praying for God to deliver the minister, and the congregation, and when she placed those frail arms around my neck, and pressed her cheek to mine and placed a kiss there.

Feeling as she did, it was very fitting that a large group sang the songs she loved. They were directed by Brother J.L. Hopper. Having prayer at our home was Elder Jerry Hunt. Prayer at the church was offered by Brother J.L. Hopper. Elder E.B. Watts and Elder Gus Harter preached a beautiful sermon, and Elder C.O. Woodley closed at the grave.

Our thanks to all for their prayers, love flowers, cards, and help during this time of sorrow, yet rejoicing in the Lord. (Dec., 1970)

PART TWO

DEVOTIONAL

Be Not Ashamed

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, 2 Tim. 1:8.

I was a vagabond in the world, without a home and knowing I had no merits of my own to claim. I was miserable in the heat and cold, the rain and hot sunshine, without a home and a shelter from these elements.

I saw the beauty of the church where one has the delight of living in the King’s house, and eating and drinking at the King’s table. I could not hope for a home of such beauty and distinction, the very highest elevation a poor mortal might be blessed to enjoy on the earth. The pleasure of society in the world could never touch the surface the beauty of the Lord’s house. Here the King himself was not ashamed, nor above being called the elder brother.

Then I heard the preacher say, “If you feel to be a poor wretched sinner, the church should be your home.” Could it be possible that someone else felt as poor as I? When I was a child of thirteen, I asked for a home with the people I loved. They were wonderful and kind, they took me in their arms, gave me a home, filled my hungry soul with overflowing joy by manifesting they were not ashamed to call me brother.

As I go out about my daily business in the world, and often the time comes when someone wants to know, what order of people are you of? I never think of being ashamed of the people that gave me a home. They were not ashamed of me when first I was a beggar hunting a home. Yes, I can thankfully say, holding my head up with my heart overflowing with the warmth of the fellowship of the Lord’s people, “I am a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.”

Then so often the person I am talking to, with a respectful light in his eyes will say, “My mother or father lived and died a Primitive Baptist,” or, “The best friend I have is a Primitive Baptist,” or, “I have a mighty good, honest neighbor who is a Primitive Baptist; they are mighty fine folks.”

Oh, that God will lead me that I may not give the young children, who may be members of the church now, or in the future, any reason to be ashamed to say, “I am a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. How do you feel about it? (July, 1962).

A DREAM

Do not I love thee, O my Lord?

Behold my heart and see;

And turn each cursed idol out

That dares to rival thee.

Hast thou a lamb in all thy flock

I would disdain to feed?

Hast thou a foe before whose face

I fear thy cause to plead?

Would not my heart pour forth its blood

In honor to thy name,

And challenge the cold hand of death

To damp the immortal flame?

We often in our meditation wonder just what we would do today, if we knew it was our last day upon earth. I also hear the statement made, that we should live every day just like we would, if it was our last day upon the earth.

Not many months ago, in a dream one night, I was in just such a condition. I do not recall just how I came into possession of this knowledge, but it came to me very forcibly. I was very positive of the very time when death would reign over me. I realize no one would possibly know until they came to this condition just what they would do. But, I will give you my thoughts in this dream.

I began to write a few words to each of the lambs and sheep in and around the churches where I go, who, because of their absence from time to time, many churches benches are empty. I then began to plead with those who had not taken up their cross and followed their Lord in baptism.

As I tried to write words of force to each one, I was mindful of my many failures and shortcomings, and wondered if I should even attempt to admonish them to be more faithful. Then I felt, perhaps, the fact that my last day on the earth was spent in thoughts of them and their welfare would add force to my words.

I wrote words of exhortation to those who often hunt, fish, who make plans before hand for some activity and just forget it is meeting day, and those who ordinarily are very faithful, but sometimes work so hard during the week in the field, that Saturday or Saturday night is their only time to rest, iron, wash, and cook—those whom the Lord had blessed with a strong body to work 6 days a week, and a good pay check, and were just too tired to go to church on Sunday. I wondered if there were any that ever used their precious little children as excuses for not attending regularly, because they were too much trouble at church.

As I began to meditate on what my last words would be to my wife, with the responsibility of the business and farm, and our three small children, I thought of how faithful she had been as a helpmate to me in the ministry, to visit homes with me, and to carry our three small children to church (unless there was sickness), Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and nights, in all kinds of weather. Though I know she loved the church, I wanted to say in exhortation, “Just keep on being faithful to the church as you have in the past. Never let company, the children if well, being too tired and the decoration of my grave, hinder you from going to church, and praising the One who some sweet day will raise this sleeping dust.”

Of course, I awoke before the hour came to depart. I tell you this, that each one may better understand why often the words may sting from the pulpit, or why a heart sickening look of disappointment may come over my face, when you tell me your reason for not attending church. I may often in the future, as in the past, talk to you about it, and admonish you as tenderly as I can.

But when you must fish, hunt, iron, wash, cook, stay at home with company, go to a singing, or you were too tired from working, or you forgot it was meeting day, or a host of other excuses, the part you never see is the tears your pastor sheds, when off to himself, because he loves you dearly and wants to see each of God’s children get the full benefit and enjoyment of their privilege of having a home in the Church of God. (July, 1962).

For Shame — For Shame

Do you enjoy shaking hands with the Lord’ people? It has been a practice and pleasure among our people for many long years. Being called as a church pastor, having the name of a minister, and being a member of the church as a child, I know some of the feelings a person receives from a good, firm handshake.

I can remember as a child how I appreciated the members of the church noticing me with a handshake. Some always overlooked me. They would shake hands with the grown ups sitting next to me, but they never noticed me. Others, bless their memory, never overlooked me. Though some of them have gone on to rest from their labors, such as Brother S.E. Copeland, and Elder W.M. Cook, their kindness is still with me this day.

As I go down a bench shaking hands with the grown ups, I hope never to miss a child. I watch these children closely, for so often, as I shake hands with their parents, they are watching me, then as I turn a smiling face and an outstretched hand toward them, I see the precious smile on their pretty little faces, and I am made to remember just how they feel. You can talk about God being a ready paymaster, and I’ll testify of a truth, little children’s smiles are quick pay for the attention we give them.

I am encouraged when someone tells me from time to time about a little girl or boy, who has said, “I like to go to that church; their pastor is so friendly; he even shook hands with me!” Old Baptists, let us be careful, to attend to these things. We don’t need any youth organizations to draw children to the church. Just manifest the love we feel, and the hope, God has placed in our hearts.

When you see me at church, whether I am sitting on the front or back bench, whether you are a preacher, deacon, or lay member, if my little children are sitting by my side, and you must skip one, then skip me, and shake hands with my child. Do other little children the same way, and you will be casting bread upon the waters. When I see someone go by shaking hands with the people in church, as I see a little child hold up its little hand, just to go unnoticed, I mourn, FOR SHAME — FOR SHAME. (July 1962)

TALEBEARING

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord,” Lev. 19:16

When Christ told those that brought the woman caught in adultery,”Let him that is without sin cast the first stone,” he was not denying her guilt. Had there been one stone cast or 1000, it would not have made her guilt more, nor would it have removed any of it. When there is nothing that can be accomplished by a stone, then don’t throw one. He did not even say she was as good as they, but none of them could qualify to throw a stone, because none were without spot.

Many of God’s children succumb to the tempter, and fade from the hopes of the church. When one of these fall to the shame of the church and loved ones, we cannot make it any easier with wagging gossiping tongues.

Tales are like stones, and might be compared to stones. Sometimes, stones are cast, and they rebound to the hurt of the one who threw them. Nothing that happens in the church that is unpleasant should be talked about in the presence of our children, strangers, neighbors or friends. Too many talk about what was done, what was not done, or what ought to have been done, usually trying to lay some fault on the church. Then later, they seemingly cannot understand why their children or friends never want to belong to the church. No one had better come to my home to talk about some trouble in the presence of my children.

Well, if something is true, why not talk about it? Will anything you do or I say cause it not to be true? “A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter,” Prov. 11:13. If we are faithful to manifest God’s love, we will keep secrets and tales, though true. If something needs the attention of the church, talk to the deacons and the pastor. They know how to inform the flock. We must remember, however, that a private matter must not even be told them, until we have labored according to the Bible.

To talk to anyone and gossip about something, though it be true, is talebearing. A talebearer usually ends his conversation by saying, “I’m not going back to church until they do something about it; I am going to get my letter.” Then he usually points out his self-righteousness by using fellowship as an excuse. Such as the above is in contempt of the church, and should be dealt with as a drunkard, or fornicator, or other public offense. Satan himself has captured such a person, and they are not showing any love for God nor the church. (Aug., 1962)

CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung

By the chimney with care,

In the hope that Saint Nick

Would soon be there.

For as long as I can remember, Christmas has held a fascination for me. The thoughts of toys, gifts, Christmas trees, firecrackers, and playing games, has many times caused me to sit and rock and daydream about the approaching day.

However, none of the things mentioned above, nor the jingle of the poem, tend to magnify the name of Christ.

Even as a child, I could not tie together Christmas and the birth of Christ. The things that tended to mark Christmas were things that appealed to human nature and the flesh. There is an organized effort to cause people to think of Christmas as the birthday of Christ. However, if it is to be celebrated with firecrackers, expensive gifts, intoxication and cussing, it is better to remember it as another gala affair instituted from the darkness of Babylon. When we understand that it was designed to appeal to fleshly instincts, then we know why Christmas is so far from Christ.

I see no particular harm in allowing children or grown ups to look forward to Christmas with excitement. I never expect to teach my children that this kind of excitement represents spirituality. If I know anything about the service of God, I find the burning desire of my heart to be, to rejoice in the birth, death, burial and glorious resurrection of Christ Jesus in the hot summer month of July, or in dreaded February, just as much as December 25^th.

There is no spirituality in remembering Christ once a year. None, in remembering the poor and needy or the fatherless and the widows once a year. God help his children to remember his birth, death, and resurrection, every day of the year alike. Help us likewise to remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea for the express purpose of saving his people from their sins. That his power over the flesh is so sufficient that no power is able to hinder his love, nor separate us from the love of God which is in Christ.

Our King does not wait until December 25^th to permit us to rejoice in the blessings of peace with God. Neither should we wait until Christmas to realize the need of a godly and honorable life. Neither should we wait for Thanksgiving to bow our head before our little family, and in the quietness of our own home, express our thanks to God for all he has done for us through his Son.

No wonder a little light hearted celebration once a year is not to be connected with Christ, except that we need to behave ourselves at all times. But any true celebration of Christ and his life must reach deeper than this. The true depth of any celebration of Christ and his birth is testified by the servant Simeon as he held the little babe Christ in his own arms. Luke 2:29-32, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Nov., 1962)

Different Beliefs Within a Marriage

In the world today, so full of different ideas and different opinions, marriages often do not escape the vacuum of different religious beliefs. I have viewed different beliefs cause the torments of timely hell, and then again I have viewed the happiness caused by a sane and level headed approach to different beliefs.

I call to mind many of different strong beliefs, who go with each other to church. I have seen others who believed this arrangement could be worked out, and then after marriage found out it couldn’t. I have never attempted to advise old Baptist children, except to be faithful to their church after marriage, and to come as often as possible. One thing I do tell them is, if a sweetheart will not honor them by attending church with them before marriage, they need not expect them to after marriage.

Primitive Baptists, of course, do not believe that only those who belong to their church will live in heaven. Neither do we try to impose harsh measures upon our members to prevent them from ever attending another faith of people. We feel strongly that we teach the truth, and that is sufficient to prevent our people from going off into error.

There are two faiths, to my knowledge, in our locality, who are not confident, evidently, that they teach the truth. Both impose laws upon their members to prevent them from working out arrangements for a happy marriage in the face of different beliefs.

One goes so far as to require the party of another belief to sign and promise to sell the souls of their unborn children to them, to raise them up in their belief, before they will bless or recognize that marriage. In my opinion, of all the things practiced by any religious order, this is the lowest, most ungodly, device of Satan that the world has ever seen.

A young man or young woman should stop and think. People consider the selling of slaves to be evil, and it is! But the thought of selling the souls of unborn children to Satan, to the errors of darkness, is enough to cause a young man or young woman, to tell the one they are planning to marry, “If you don’t love me enough to marry me , without promising you and your faith, then you don’t love me enough for me to marry you!” (Dec., 1962)

Ruining a Preacher

There is a lot of difference in encouraging a preacher, and on the other hand, telling him he is better than the rest. As long as there are people, they will have a preference in preachers. However, for either the congregation or the preacher to forget the safeguards, will surely end in disaster. When we see a preacher ruined by too much praise, so that he becomes exalted in his own esteem, losing his humility, feeling that he alone is responsible for informing the Old Baptists what is wrong with them, and how to fix it, we can make two clear observations.

(1) The people are to blame for submitting themselves to reckless thoughts and words. (2) The preacher is to blame for listening. Paul gave the qualifications of the minister both in 1 Timothy and in Titus. One of them was that he should be sober. The best way for any individual to stay sober is to refrain from partaking of the things that would cause drunkenness. There are words and deeds toward the preacher that will strengthen and encourage him. There are others that will make him drunk.

Prov. 27:21, “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.”

As long as the fining pot and the furnace within the little preacher is working efficiently, he will always be sober and humble. There is nothing about any man, no matter how outstanding you may feel he is, that is worthy of undue and reckless praise. As long as the old servant or young servant, reacts to and enjoys such words and actions, just about like he would a mosquito bite, surely the furnace for separating the impurities by destroying them is still operating efficiently.

The person who thinks a certain preacher is the only one in the world today, had swallowed someone else yesterday, and will swallow someone else tomorrow.

Some of the things that will be destroyed as impurities if the furnace is operating properly are: you can sure beat Elder so and so preaching; that is the best sermon I have ever heard preached; I hope they save you for Sunday, and I wish they had preached you today, for I came just to hear you.

Surely, every true servant wants to be loved and respected. How they love that encouragement that sticks to the ribs when the going gets thin. For a dear brother or sister to clasp your hand tight and say, the Lord was sure good to you, or you fed and comforted me should cause the servant to remain humble. Some will just clasp your hand with tears in their eyes, and never say a word. That is more strengthening than a thousand flowery-hollow-sounding words. Thanks to God also for the dear one who will go just as far, just as regularly and eagerly to hear a poor boy to proclaim the gospel of God as they would the so-called big preachers. These are things that come through the furnace as pure gold and shine to the praise of God. They are things the poor old servant can go back to for comfort and strength in the moments of his many doubts and fears to give him courage to journey on.

Most servants will never know the feelings of a big preacher, and don’t want to. One reason he will remain just a little preacher is his soberness. On the way home from church, or the next week, he often will begin tearing his discourse apart into little bits. When he gets through, there are so many things that were said that were unnecessary and many things that should have been said, there isn’t anything left to gloat over. Yet the brethren and sisters that expressed their enjoyment were sincere. How could both be right? It was the Spirit of God that made the difference. When this Spirit is present and tenderly leading, it fills all space of honor and leaves none for man. It was that way yesterday, and it will be that way tomorrow. God is to be praised and not the preacher.

A great deal of trouble can be caused by preachers seeking to be a moderator of an association. Such is not pursued by the humble, nor directed by the Spirit of God.

No two men will agree on the application of scripture all the time. Then what if everyone were to demand that the church or the association follow their view all the time. The result will be torn churches and split associations. There are, however, certain fundamentals over which there must not be any disagreements. When you find a person, be it deacon, preacher or lay member, who feels like he is always right, and everybody else ought to have sense enough to see it, and do the way he wants them to, you have found a troublemaker. His doctrine is rule or ruin. In his burning zeal for the good of the cause, according to his own ideas, by continually trying to force his ideas upon those who have no desire for them, he creates a coldness in the church. Old Baptists do well in being careful of themselves and their preachers. A preacher who can’t hardly wait until his name is called to preach, thinks he has always got to preach on Sunday, and in addition feels like he has got to straighten all the other preachers out and undo all the errors the church may have honestly committed in the last 10 or 50 years, watch him. If he hasn’t caused you trouble he soon will. But you may be at fault also. In your desire to encourage your preacher, you may have fed him some impurities as pertains to praise and you may have come to believe them yourself. God may show you what an arrogant, unbearable, troublemaker even a called man of God can be without the Spirit of God directing him.

Rom. 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Aug., 1963)

GIVING

When giving is mentioned, I suppose it meets with as many different opinions and deep rooted personal beliefs as any other subject that could be mentioned. It is not my intention, as has been attempted in the past, and by some in the present, to set up standards for the Primitive Baptists to follow. The following is my sincere belief. I feel it is backed up by the Bible.

For those who look upon religion as just another business or occupation, tithing is the common word applied to giving. Tithing was the mode of giving in the days of Abraham, and was used until the law was fulfilled by Christ. Since that time the new and modern way of giving has been authorized by our example, the Apostle Paul bearing record of it.

2 Cor. 9:7, Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The true minister of God has not been authorized to offer his service for sale to anyone, or to the highest bidder, for filthy lucre’s sake. The preaching of the gospel to God’s children, the comforting words at funerals, or visitation in the home or hospital for the sick, or daily visitations of love, cannot be measured in dollars and cents, and to try to do so only cheapens the beauty of manifested love. True love cannot be bought nor motivated by money. That is the reason I told a good friend of mine of another faith once, that if I got sick and he had to pay someone to come and visit me, to just forget about it, because the man wouldn’t do me any good when he got there. My friend had explained that he didn’t have any time to do the visiting himself, so he paid the preacher to do his visiting for him.

The Bible will not condone either of the extremes of the subject. On one extreme are those who cry give, give, until the people get the idea that money is the most important item about church service. The other extreme feeling is that it is all out of place to help a minister above his bare gas expense, and just don’t worry about the necessity of the members, because the state welfare fund will take care of all that. Such is mere covetousness, and is unrighteous as pointed out in 1 Cor. 6:10.

The one extreme base their ideas largely on 1 Cor. 9:13,14, “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” The above scripture cannot be rightly applied without consideration of the reservations the apostle Paul pointed out in the following verses. In every instance where the following verses on the subject are ignored it will bring heartache and disturbance. Paul in the 15^th verse explains the position of the ministers well. “For it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.”

Would it not be better to die, than for God’s children to think our preacher ought to be zealous and interested in us, because that is what we are paying him for. Your glorying is therefore made void, for all our glory should be that God through his mercy and grace in our hearts has motivated us with love, kindness, and gentleness. For a man to preach continually, give, give, he will eventually leave the impression, whether it be true or false, that he is more interested in money than anything else. In so doing he has incurred a loss of confidence on the part of the congregation, and hence has ruined his effectiveness as a servant, and obtained the opposite for which he may be striving—the growth of the church of God. The same is true of hinting preachers, or over-zealous deacons, dunning people for funeral services.

The other extreme of complete financial neglect of the church and her ministry has no support, that I can determine, from the Bible. This idea is usually born either out of covetousness or blindness to the truth. Some who hold this extreme justify it, or try to, because the opposite extreme has caused so much trouble.

The right way, and in complete concord with the ninth chapter of First Corinthians, is found in Acts 20:33-35, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring, ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

This will teach the preacher, and also the giver, for the benefit of the church. The preacher can be covetous and is, if he desires the dollar in his brother’s pocket. The brother, on the other hand, may also be covetous by failing to remember that God is the one that blesses our natural labors. When a person gives you anything out of the goodness of his heart, impressed by God, you can then tearfully rejoice that the goodness of God abounds in his heart. If, on the other hand, a person doesn’t want to give anything, you certainly should not want it. I would certainly advise a grudging giver to keep his money in his pocket, because it will not help him any to give it. See 2 Cor. 9:7.

“These hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.” I find some of my sweetest thoughts as I go about my daily labors. Sometimes, when I decide I will just sit down and study my Bible, I had just as well be reading an almanac. As long as God blesses a person with the labor of his own hands, so that he is not depending on others, he will more surely preach the truth, even when it stings. Imagine a preacher rebuking a rich person, possibly cutting off this person’s gifts and leaving the preacher’s family in need. We might all have enough weakness about us to bend a little. I hope to never be in such a condition.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a blessing in giving. There is not much religion about a person, who cannot see the needs of the church and the needy. The privilege of giving is one of the sweetest comforts to the child of God, and indeed something to be thankful for. What if you did not have to give, but stood in need of receiving?

“Not grudgingly, or of necessity.” This scripture clearly justifies objections to the practice of passing a hat or plate on some occasions, of even laying money on a table—if such is done to force giving—rather than for convenience. Such public ways as stated above will sometimes receive money for show, because someone doesn’t want to be embarrassed. I would hasten to add that if you know someone who does any of the above, it does not justify a declaration of non-fellowship, or of mouthing controversy. It just isn’t the Bible way, and should not be practiced.

Another very wrong thing is for a deacon or one responsible for seeing after the finances of the church to refuse to take a large amount of money which a member or friend might want to give. You thereby fail to allow that person the blessing of giving as his heart has dictated. You have set yourself up as wiser than God, by refusing to recognize that God impresses his people to give to take care of the necessities of the church and ministry. God may have impressed that person to give to someone’s need or suffering. That is the reason no set amount should be agreed upon to give the minister. Whether a set amount might $10.00 or a hundred dollars, it does not coincide with Bible truths. It is bad when members must bypass those who handle the finances of the church to give their pastor a greater amount, which they may feel impressed to so do.

When an individual takes the deduction on his income tax for charitable work, and has not given it, it is certainly lying. I hope no Old Baptist is guilty of that. If there is any, however, who are guilty, I would refer them to the sobering scriptures about Ananias and Sapphira in the 5^th chapter of Acts. It is ours to give or not to give. There is no use lying about it. Money given solely to save on income tax would be considered a necessity, and will not merit the blessing of God, according to the scriptures.

1 Cor. 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” This scripture is in connection with a relief for the brethren which dwelt in Judea because of hardship. This would certainly point out the virtue in helping the members of the church in their hardships. However, if the hardship is too heavy for the church to bear all at once, it can be carried on for any length of time necessary to properly relieve the hardship. The scripture has no reference and will not support, the collection of money in this way for the ministry.

The Old Baptists have been good to this poor boy, and I have no complaints about my treatment. I have written this only because of so many questions about it. I hope Primitive Baptist preachers will refrain from any extreme. Should we ever judge our prosperity by the amount collected each Sunday, or the property the church owns. we will then be no different from all other churches in the world.

I would just like to say thank God for so many people who have been so good to me and mine. Many has been the time that the only money I had for our necessities was what God impressed his people to give. One fall, a few years ago, it looked like we would not be able to buy any winter clothes for the family. In a condition like that, could you wonder at my tears of thanksgiving to come home one day, and open a letter from a dear sister, and a $50.00 bill fall out of it. May God be praised. Pity the preacher who feels like someone owes him money to preach. He doesn’t read the Bible I read. Pity the person who doesn’t feel like giving. He’ll never know the full joy. The rest don’t need pity. The rich God of glory takes care of them! (Sept., 1963)

Thriving on trouble

Have you even seen people that seem to thrive on trouble, want to have something going all the time, can’t seem to enjoy church, unless there is some disagreement? I have heard for ages of people, who were possibly very sick, getting out of bed and taken to church, so some idea could be put over on the church. This was done many years ago, not more than a half mile from where I live today. The church is gone. The house is gone. God was not pleased. Some cannot seem to be able to go to church n Saturday, unless they are expecting some controversy—possibly in the calling of the pastor. God will not be pleased with those who had rather have trouble than peace. Those who just don’t feel like anything is working right unless they have found something to be hurt at someone about. This is of Satan. It is not like children. Children forget easily. That is the reason they can enjoy living together so good. Do you have some little thing you are hurt at someone about? Try the child’s way and forget it. This is God’s way. He will smile from heaven upon your heart and soul. (July, 1964)

Why not come home?

I would like to take just a moment to talk to you, the one who is reading this article. Are you one of the many who would like to be a member of the church, but, for some reason or another, have not come home? Then let me ask you this question, then you can answer it before your God in all honesty. I don’t know what your answer is; only God knows, for I don’t even know that you are now reading these words. What is your excuse for putting off any longer joining the church?

You, who have been made to taste that the Lord is gracious. You, who have rejoiced many time in the gospel of God, you, who love the church and would become very angry if someone were to throw off on the church.

Do you find it hard to leave your seat? Try this some time. Take a step toward the pastor. See if the rest of the steps are easy. Do you feel too unworthy? That is good. No one is worthy except through Jesus. Because of him you have a right to live in the church. Do you feel like you are too young? Jesus said, “Suffer (which means let) little children come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. When you want to come, you are old enough to join, for only God’s children want and long to live in the church.

You may say it is none of my business, but you are not answering me. God will hear your answer, for he even knows the intents of a man’s heart. The one who has been good and merciful to you, the one who died for you, the one who loves you.

The church somewhere in the world will go on without any individual. But what about your church? The one you attend. The one where you may have been carried since you went in mother’s arms. Is it precious? God has given you the right to inherit it, because of his Son. Come home, child, come home. The trees, the birds, the elements will sing the praise of God. Enjoy the sweet feeling of the hope as God smiles upon you as he speaks in blessing you to rejoice, saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

What is your answer to God? You may fool me, but you can’t fool him. If your excuse seems out of place to God, then just don’t make one. The next time you have the opportunity to unite with the church, do it. (July, 1964).

Tribulation worketh patience, Rom. 5:3

Perhaps you and I might, and do, find it hard at times, especially during our tribulations, to understand the reasoning in this scripture. However, if we will only stop and consider the greatness of patience, we can understand better why we are seasoned by even the bitterness of life.

We, no doubt, feel like at times our tribulations are the worst a person ever had to bear, and yet the Apostle Paul, in speaking of our Savior in Heb. 12:4 said, “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” One of our greatest shortcomings is in trying to wish away the past, instead of looking unto Jesus for the race that is set before us.

As an example, one of the greatest tribulations the wife and I have had to bear is the affliction of our oldest little daughter, Pamella, who is retarded. While I realize most of you have not experienced this, I would not say you do not understand, for God’s grace helps us to bear one another’s burdens. If you try to bear them alone, trying to rebuff others by saying, “You just do not understand,” you have been blinded by your own weakness (temporarily perhaps) to the power of God’s grace, and the power of the love of the church. Anyone who has experienced tribulations that leaves you all sick inside, something to carry night and day for the remainder of your lives, something that tries your faith and steadfastness, you understand my tribulation, because of our experience, and God’s grace and brotherly love. Don’t ever tell anyone they do not understand your particular tribulation, for you might be talking to someone, who has borne more tribulation than you. The reason you don’t know it is because they have borne theirs better than you have.

If the wife and I were to look to any source but Jesus, begin to bathe our life in self pity, we would not be good parents, nor good citizens in the household of God. We could spend our time in bitterness to the hospital, the doctor, our own failures, and even toward God. This would ruin our lives and our usefulness to anyone or any cause. Are you letting some tribulation ruin your life? By tribulation we learn patience. Patience teaches us that the sun does not always shine. That the fields are not always green. That God’s grace is sufficient to open for us an escape, even though we may seem entirely walled around. We remember through tribulations and patience to remain humble. Without them, being weak as we are, we might forget to thank and praise God, and look to him for all our blessings.

By God’s grace I refuse to waste away my life considering what might have been. By trying to turn back the pages of time. By being bitter toward people. In so doing, I would not be showing much love for my little daughter. By seeing things in their true light, I can give my little daughter the love, affection and understanding she deserves. Why should I ruin her sweet little life in the realm of her power to receive?

Sometimes children of God will sell their birthright to the church by fornication and adultery. All the wishing will not turn back the pages of time. When such has happened, whether it be your loved one or mine, we are wrong in ruining our lives, because someone cannot live in the church. I have seen many, that although they knew they could never live in the church, yet showed their love toward God by repenting, going on to the church and rejoicing in his gospel. This is the way it should be. We should encourage God’s children to show their humility and love for the church. If we, instead, act in a way ourselves to cause such an individual to be bitter toward the church, we have not been very thoughtful. Such a one, that has turned from man’s evil way to live right and honorable, needs even more love and encouragement than one who has not been in these thorns. To do less toward one of our loved ones is wrong and not manifesting much love for them.

I know of a case where a man divorced his wife, because they could not get along together. He then married another woman, a fine woman. They both, being fine people, became interested in the Primitive Baptists. They talked to the pastor, and he told them the church could never receive them. He told them the church could receive their children, if ever they felt the impression to unite with the church. They then joined the Progressives. After a period of time, they began coming back to church, telling the pastor they had rather come there and not belong than go anywhere else, and belong to a church. They did not poison their children, because they (the parents) could not belong. Today some of their children are members of the Primitive Baptists. Can you think of a greater love for the church than this? Instead of ruining their lives, they are making the best possible of their tribulation.

We realize there are many evil forces in this world seeking to destroy the virtue, and thereby, the beauty of young men and women. We as ministers should, not doubt, be more diligent in instructing them of the seriousness of committing these many sins, even though all the forces in this world try to justify and encourage it. The world is full of both amateurs and professionals who will stoop to all lows, use dope and everything else, to trick and trap our young people, and especially our young girls. Those of us who possibly have not seen these evils first-hand and have young daughters, had best open our eyes to these dreadful evils before it is too late to spare the sorrow that will surely come. Let us pray for and with one another for some of our very best people have been trapped this way.

May God help us and our nation for the road ahead looks dark and dreary, yet he has promised, “My grace is sufficient.” Let us remember that though an individual may sell his birthright to the church here in the world he cannot lose the right to heaven, because of our heavenly birth. May the lives of all be brighter in looking forward to the time when all the redeemed of God will be presented before the Father, cleansed from ALL sin by the blood of Christ. (Aug., 1964)

Shall our nation stand?

We are admonished to pray for those who have the rule over us. This leaves us to know we should not take the opportunity we have had during our lifetime to worship our God as free people for granted. Yet, as I view the commandments of God and his withdrawal of his blessings to a backsliding people I have serious fears about our destiny.

Certainly we should not expect God to do the duties which are ours as citizens of our nation. At the same time, those people who forget that God is still supreme and try to rule by their own hand may very well end up as the old king in Daniel’s day.

As we read and study the Word of God, we find that often God will allow evil and corrupt nations to rule over his people for the disobedience of his people. Considering this, do you wonder if our nation will stand?

We have been admonished to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto him, which is our reasonable service. Consider then, how many people consider it unreasonable, when someone suggests that to show a love for the Lord, we should be faithful to attend our church.

As we think on our nation and the deplorable mess we are in, may we remember the promise of God to Abraham concerning sparing the city for the sake of a few in the case of Lot.

Then next Saturday or Sunday, when we consider whether to go to church or not, whether to visit this or that one in Christian love, may we remember our failure to be humble, obedient, God-fearing people may very well bring chaos to us as a nation. Do you want our nation to turn into another Congo with our wives and children subjected to all filthiness? If not, let us fear God and keep his commandments. What about church Sunday? Did you go last time? (Aug., 1964)

“Despise not thy mother when she is old”

It is easy for the young to think their mother is foolish. Some children consider the careful watchcare of a fine mother as bothersome. Young people do not realize the dangers that lurk in their paths. Mother does. Mother may seem old fogey, but love her tenderly, while you have the opportunity. Don’t make fun of her, because she is not as highly educated as you. Let her know how wonderful she is while she lives. She loves you with the strongest natural love known. To be ashamed of her is to despise her. To make fun of her is to despise her. To tell her she is ignorant is to despise her. To threaten her is to despise her. Do you despise your mother? You may not think so, but your actions may prove you do. How have you been treating your mother lately? (Oct., 1964)

“And hope maketh not ashamed,” Rom. 5:5

People often are ashamed of themselves for words spoken, deeds done, or things left undone. Women would feel ashamed if their clothing were out of style or outdated. People are ashamed of many things. Many of them usually unjustified. If a person is ashamed of hope, they don’t know what it is.

In the first place, hope follows experience. So only those who have experienced the regenerating grace of God have hope. See Rom. 5:4. If we say we have no hope, we say we are without God, an alien. Eph. 2:12, “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.”

What is hope good for? Rom. 8:24,25, “For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience hope for it.” Hope saves us. It keeps us from the darkness of despair. Hope permits us to look over death and the grave. You have never seen heaven, so all you have is a hope.

It reminds me in ways of a spring, when we are hoping the little plants will come up, grow and mature, so we will have a bountiful harvest. When the harvest is in the barn, your hope of a harvest is gone. When Jesus carries us home to heaven, we will need hope no longer. As long as a child of God lives, he will have hope and it maketh not ashamed. In Heb. 6:19 the apostle tells us hope is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. It reaches within the vail where Christ is. This is hope. Be not ashamed.

Isn’t there something better? More sure — more modern than hope? Jesus Christ is our hope. 1 Tim. 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.” Is there something better than Christ? Something more sure or modern? If he is our hope, what is there to be ashamed of? If a person is ashamed of hope he is ashamed of Jesus.

So hope that is seen is not hope. We have never seen heaven, so we have a hope — not first hand knowledge. The mystery Paul was talking about in Col. 1:27 was Christ in you, the hope of glory. When the Spirit of Christ dwells in a person, he is a child and heir of God. When you have searched and found something more sure than Christ, that is impossible, so instead of searching, let us rejoice. Thank God for hope. It maketh not ashamed. (Oct., 1964)

SINGING

I am becoming more and more concerned at the number of people, both young and old, who do not take part in the singing service. If all of us who know we are not very good singers were to quit trying to sing, it would be bad. There are very few real good singers, who know music and have good voices as well. Yet, regardless, we should desire to sing as well as we possibly can to show forth our praise to God.

We can all make good excuses, saying we cannot sing. Yet if some improvement is not made at some places, it will soon be that we cannot get enough together to sing at funerals. This is shameful and very embarrassing, especially, since God gives us a voice and tongue and mouth to praise him with.

I am so concerned I want to try to think of ways to remedy a deplorable situation. Perhaps, we could visit in homes, take our song books, and do some practicing. Let’s think of it, and try to think of ways to better our situation, especially at Mt. Vernon. You don’t have to be a member of the church to sing. Perhaps with a little practice, our young children with such beautiful voices will help us more. I know many of them sing at school and do good jobs. We must have better singing.

Eph. 5:17-20, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always unto God, and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Dec., 1964)

MARY

Luke 11:27,28, “And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps, which thou hast sucked. But he said, yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Christ, in these few words, forever made it plain that Mary is not to be worshiped. If she is to be worshiped, then, so are other poor sinners here in this world. We find the reason why God is to be worshiped as the creator, and the creature is not to be worshiped in Paul’s warning to the Roman brethren.

Rom. 1:25, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

The Creator is blessed forever. The creature (Mother Mary) has no power beyond death, because she, like the remainder of past humanity, lies cold in death. Read the first chapter of Romans, and see the end result of any of us, who might serve the creature, whether Mother Mary, some preacher, our children, our parents, or any creature more than the Creator.

Although Christ loved his mother with great love, he said for all to ponder in Matt. 12:48-50, “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

If Mary should be worshiped, then should all others so defined, and you and I have read, and had better carefully ponder the dreadful result God has promised all who worship and serve the created! (Jan., 1965)

STRONG DRINK, WINE

Prov. 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

These words by the wisest man who ever lived, other than Jesus, should not be the subject for any controversy. Wine is a mocker in that it shows forth a reflection of the weakness of man. We observe much wine causing a person to forget serious things. We may even observe much wine causing an individual to mock or ridicule his own mother or father or other loved one.

“Strong drink is raging.” When we say a stream is raging, we mean it is at its worst, out of control, destructive, out of its bounds, casting a fear upon those who love the still gentle brook. There is enough sin about the best of men without anyone being at their worst. There is a hard enough warfare for you and I to fight against our fleshly desires without losing any more control. When one little word or one little deed can bring to ruin an old man or old lady of a life of honor or integrity, we do not need any unnecessary destruction. When man in his vanity sometimes loses sight of his God, and gets out of bounds, feeling his importance and strength, it is only deceiving simply, because this strength is only temporary. It seems like there is as much difference between the gentle brook and the raging stream as there is between good and evil, and possibly in a sense between God and Satan. The gentle stream reminds you of peace and life. The raging streams reminds you of death and destruction.

Who wants to be a mocker or a raging person? Surely not one of the Lord’s little children. If they are such they are deceiving themselves. We should want to be king or ruler over the things that are raging and destructive.

Prov. 31:4-6, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”

Sometimes there are those who are members of the church of God, who to the shame of their families and the church, indulge in strong drink to the knowledge of their community, and yet it not be to the knowledge of the church. Many times these are worse than some who are dealt with by the church. However, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Sometimes the church will know. Sure, they will be hurt, because they had so much confidence in a person, who was living ungodly in their midst.

A person in defense might say, “Doesn’t the Bible say, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities?” You and I know that wine has been used for infirmities of some sorts for a long time, and no doubt, in some ways nothing else could take its place. The trouble is, it is usually used upon the prescription of the one who is using it, and most times, I fear, because they like it, rather than because it is helping their infirmities. Even using a little wine for a person’s infirmities will not necessitate a large pile of beer cans and whiskey bottles out behind the smokehouse, or some other place every year. There won’t be many wine bottles if a little wine is used.

We should stop in fear and trembling as we read the two verses following the one quoted in the paragraph above. This will not only apply to those who drink more than a little wine, but to other sins too numerous to mention, which most are guilty of. You and I know that God knows all things, and that nothing is hid from him. Yet we might try to hide it from the church, and those everywhere we love and who have confidence in us.

1 Tim. 5:24,25, “Some sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also, the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”

If our evil deeds are not known beforehand, they will be after we are gone. Some might say, “What will it hurt for my sins to be known after I am gone?” Yet, as for me, my prayer to God is that he would lead me and strengthen me by his grace that when I am gone those of my loved ones by nature and my loved ones in the dear old church and the children of God everywhere, would in their memory be able to recall a few little things that are good, rather than bad. (Feb., 1965)

SLUGGARD

Pro. 20:4, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing.”

I suppose we all have a little taint of the sluggard in us, if not to a great degree. It is never pleasant in the spring of the year to begin plowing, before it gets warm enough to be comfortable. The mornings may be cold, the nights the same, and yet we know if we wait until it is warm, it is too late to turn the land. Last year, I remember the land got so dry, you could not get a plow to go into the ground. The result is clear: “He shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.” If we wait until everything is just right, we will go hungry.

People today, spiritual sluggards, must have everything just right to serve their Savior, laying up treasures where moth and rust doth not corrupt and thieves do not steal. They are either too young, too old, too unworthy, or too busy to serve the Lord.

The church is too far, the children have other plans, the pastor said something that he shouldn’t. No one, the pastor or others, who can see the evidence of God’s grace in them, should mention it, for the sluggard will usually say it is no one’s business, and I will join when I get ready. Not realizing that if one waits until he feels like everything is just perfect, he will end up begging at harvest and will have nothing.

What is nothing? David explains it when he says, “The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Chaff is no good for anything worthwhile. The wind will blow it away. The fire will burn it. The good, the edible, the wheat is separated from it.

A wasted life, a life serving the world, conforming to the world, looking for popularity or praise in the world, are nothing but poverty compared to the riches of God’s blessing in obedience. Were we to live at the foot of the cross, we would have nothing whereof to boast except in the Lord. No wonder he asked, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” The answer is clear. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

A portion of God’s children are the sluggards under consideration. If we are a sluggard, we are sinners and unrighteous. Am I a sluggard? Are you a sluggard? Let us not be. The end result is very unpleasant. Come home and live! If we are already at home in the church, let us live as God has commanded. (Feb., 1965)

Beginning of Strife

Prov. 17:14, “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention before it is meddled with.”

Strife, like illness, is easier to prevent than it is to treat. Like illness, it leaves a system run down, and some organs of the body damaged, so that they do not function like they should, strife divides close brethren, lays waste the place of habitation of the Lord’s people and makes unbearable monsters of the Lord’s children.

Many people have worn themselves out trying to settle trouble. When trouble comes and fellowship goes, and the congregation with it, many begin wanting to fix things. That can be done in a generation or two. The trouble could have been prevented in this generation. One thing to be remembered, it will not be the same anymore after strife and trouble begins. Many of the best brethren we have, have gone and tried to settle troubles. After it is supposedly settled, the most often occurrence is one group getting their letters and setting up another church. This shows it will never be the same again. Just like water let out of a container. There is not a human alive that can put all the water back in a container after they have let it out. It is the same way of strife among the people of God.

Many people will let themselves lose confidence in their brethren by making much of an unintentioned, poorly spoken word or deed that appears to mean something it does not. I constantly try to keep before my eyes my own imperfections, so that if a brother or sister says, or does, something that does not appear to be right or sober, that I can better remember that we are all imperfect. How well you or I keep our own imperfections before our own eyes will determine the peace and fellowship in the church of God.

I do not mean we should close our eyes to those conditions that the Lord has forbidden in the church. I do not mean we should try to avoid those circumstances and disputes that turn brethren into monsters that cannot reason, and turn in anger upon those things they love the most, and those people that love them the most.

1 Pet. 4:8, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

If we manifest our love for one another as we should, we can overlook the faults of the people of God. If we cannot overlook the faults of those we love, can we really have much evidence that the love of God abides in our heart. Do we really love the doctrine and power of God? If we do, then, we can overlook one another’s little faults. Again, I am not talking about those things forbidden in the church of God. I am talking about contention that bringeth strife. This kind of contention divides up, splits, and destroys unity and peace. When most people come to their senses, they wonder how it ever got started. I have even known it to begin over a dog or the calling of a pastor.

Rom. 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

I have known of some people who caused divisions and contentions in several different churches in their lifetime. The church is more important than the petty ways of the contentious. Neither forbearance, pity, nor kindred in the flesh, should hinder us from following the scripture. You cannot avoid a trouble maker, and keep him in the fellowship of the church. Those who don’t avoid the divider love trouble more than they love the church. (March, 1966)

THIS CHILD

This child could be, or could have been, you or me. It could be your child or mine. It could be a friend’s child, or a relative’s child, or a neighbor’s child. It could have been born on a cold January day, or a spring morning, or a hot summer night. It could be a boy or a girl.

It was loved from the beginning. Mom and Dad were full of joy. Although it might be the first child, or a middle child, or the last child, it brought smiles to the lips of the parents, and warmed their hearts with thoughts of the present and future. Its face was a friendly face and you could tell by its smiles, it knew it was loved.

The home could be a home where the Lord is discussed and prayers said everyday, or it could be a careless home, where the Bible is gathering dust and prayers are few and far between. Both parents could be members of the church, or neither parent, or one parent. The home is blessed with parents who are honest and honorable.

The child is friendly and lovable. A smile or a kind word brings a twinkle to its eye. It is sometimes moody and depressed. It is soon easy for those who closely observe to note the evidence that this child was made to hope in the Lord while yet upon its mother’s knee.

It was carried from its youth to an old Primitive Baptist church. It could have been often, because its parents loved the church so much they never wanted to miss, or it could have been once in awhile when everything was just right, and nothing else hindered.

The child discovered it loved the members of the church, although it would never tell anyone, not even its parents. It is old enough now to understand some of the gospel. Sometimes when the old preacher, or a young preacher, is preaching of the goodness of God to poor sinners, and how the righteousness of Jesus is sufficient to cover all of his loved ones from their sins, chills run up the back, and it seems like the heart is beating in the throat as this child meditates, “Oh, my Lord, could this be the case with me?”

The child, now approaching adulthood, has become interested in boys and girls, and especially those of the opposite sex. Now comes the time for school activities, ball games, clubs, dates, as this child observes most of those its age have cast their lot with some church which had its blessing from men, and not from God. This child observes that even those supposed to be church members do not maintain the virtues that its parents have taught. God is merciful and leads this child through the tender years with out the loss of its honor. It does not unite with the church. But it is hard to keep from it. The sweetness of the gospel sometimes compels this individual to hold to the back of the bench, when the opportunity is given to unite with the church. It tries to hide the tears and wonders if anybody knows how it feels.

Life unfolds in a hurry. Marriage comes. Children appear, the building of a home, the death of parents, troubles, happiness; life is sometimes rich and sometimes bitter. Because of a pure heart this person feels the chastisement of God. Other events transpire, which are too numerous to mention. The church that is so loved in the heart of ths person, and never manifested, may prosper and grow, because there are others who did what the Lord impressed them to do and lived in the church. Or it might rot down and briars overtake it with ruin, because too many people did like this child. What kind of church would your church, or my church, be if every person who loved it did like this child does. We might well ask, “What church,” for there wouldn’t be one here. There will always be one somewhere but that doesn’t mean it has to be here.

The circumstances of life will differ, but the end will be one and the same. If this individual has maintained dignity and honor and a virtuous life, this child will have at least one regret, that it did not do what the Lord impressed it to do.

It is no wonder and only right, when our Lord has been so merciful, placed his love in the heart, caused a child to see the beauty of the church that when a person lazily, disobediently and stubbornly hesitates to shout the praises of God openly, it is very understandable that this child would have bitterness, sadness, and depression. For as this child sees the sunset of life approaching, it knows it has not done the first thing the Lord commanded to show forth the praise of the one that placed grace in that heart, while yet upon that precious mother’s knee.

Is this child you? It need not be. When the opportunity for membership is given, whether you are a child of 7 or 70, as you feel the beckoning hand of Jesus drawing, the congregation sweetly singing, the preacher hopefully praying, come and see the beauty of the church from the inside. (April, 1966)

Nurture and Admonition of the Lord

No subject is closer to the God-fearing parent’s heart than the behavior of their children. A well behaved child is the most pleasant jewel in any home. I don’t suppose there are many, if any, parents, but what at times feel like they are completely failing. We do know from experience, and from reading the Bible, that there are some methods being used today that will, and must, fail. I do not claim to be an expert, but I would leave you the following observations, which I believe to be taught in the word of God. Let you or I turn a deaf ear, if we will, to the admonitions of the Lord, and we will reap tears, anguish, despair and a fate that could be, and oftentimes is, harder to bear than death.

If the well educated, and college trained, parent today depends completely upon some of the methods of modern child psychology, the road ahead in the training of their children will be disappointing. I am not talking about the training that helps to better understand the passions and behavior of our children, for this kind of training can better prepare us for a great job ahead. I have not attended college, and studied child psychology, but I have read much literature on the subject at every opportunity, written by college professors, and other experts in this field.

The thing that has impressed me most is the correctness of most of the teachings, but usually sprinkled with a sad amount of error, which if not sifted out, would cause the entire teaching to fail. There is no writing or teaching other than the Bible, that we can accept as the complete truth. When we read of an idea or technique, that is being advanced, we should test it by the word of God, and see if it is sound.

Prov. 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

Anyone who teaches, believes, or subscribes to anything in child psychology contrary to this scripture, although he may be highly educated with titles on every side of his name, he is a victim of educated ignorance.

The above scripture also lets us know that the statement, that I love my child too much to strike it with a rod, is a complete falsehood. No matter how much love and affliction we feel in our heart, if we fail to discipline a child, when it is needed, our actions prove nothing more than hate, for our most precious natural blessings, our children.

Love and discipline are inseparable. He that beats a child in anger, or by unreasonable means has provoked a child to wrath and bitterness. Loving, petting, and giving over to the wrongful whims of children, in order to prevent unpleasant discipline doesn’t work in the home, the church, the orphanage or institution. In any case where there is the lack of either one, there is trouble.

I have known of a few people, who have attempted to discipline their children by scaring them with the bogey-man getting them, or an old black dog under the bed, etc. Such antics make nervous wrecks of little children, and completely fail in its purpose. It is also a mistreatment of the child.

To bring a child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord does not hinge altogether on discipline by the parent, but also the teaching of self-discipline to the child. To do this, a parent must be awake to the trends, the temptations, the passions that run through the veins of boys and girls, and men and women. Is it treating a young boy or girl right for parents to allow themselves to become so overcome in confidence in the goodness and trust of a child, that they allow them to go without nurture in the midst of the jungle of a crooked and perverse world?

When we talk of goodness, goodness is of the Lord in the preparation of the heart. You and I know there are good boys and girls, who become drunkards, and dope addicts, who go to penitentiaries, and homes for unwed mothers. Many mothers and fathers, who shun the very appearance of evil in their own lives who wouldn’t ride to town alone with a man or woman of the opposite sex, and most certainly wouldn’t allow themselves to be alone with a member of the opposite sex, who would talk to a neighbor, who comes about some business, either on the front porch, or through the screen door, or in the yard, show by their actions that they want to avoid the terrible tragedies of life. Yet, I have known of these same type of people, who would take the rest of the family to go to the store, or off visiting for a few moments, and leave a little daughter at home alone on a date. How foolish can a person be? Children must instead be taught to avoid such dangers, which are more dangerous than a bullet, or diseases, or wars. They should be taught that if ever at home alone, and a friend of the opposite sex comes to see them, just to ask that they return, when the family comes back.

Parents must not close their eyes to reality. To fool themselves into thinking that things like this just cannot happen is like sticking their heads in the sand. We must realize that the sin and temptations we fight are real, and right among us. The apostle Paul put it very aptly, and every parent should recall it, Rom. 7:21, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

You and I cannot rear our children in the way we should go, if we do not educate ourselves of the obstacles they face. We should try to understand the special temptations that one must face in the armed services, in college dormitories, and towns, and working as a single person away from home. We must teach them the tried and proven way the Lord has given us to overcome these passions. To make believe they do not exist is only asking for trouble. As you think back over your childhood, consider the things you faced, consider what you know now, consider the breaking down of morality, the lax moral codes in effect among so many today. It is frightening, isn’t it? It should encourage us to beg the guidance of the Lord, in the greatest job before us in bringing up our children.

I remember the words of Elder J. T. Musick, spoken a few years ago bout his children. He said, if he could recall back his happiest years, it would be those where his little children were right at his heels, asking questions, and sometimes receiving an impatient answer. Today, I can understand it ever better as I see my little boy, or my little girls, wanting to be right with me or their mother. I know they are asking for affection, and guidance. I don’t want to fail in my duty to them as their father. Many children are starving for affection and guidance today. Are yours? My wife found out a long time ago, that the one way she could always depend on me to become angry was to just mention her getting a job and going to work. The children need her at home more than we have ever needed money. They can be a lifelong pleasure.

My Lord and my God, grant to me grace to do my part, help me to understand them, to take time to tutor them, to love them properly, to discipline them tenderly, to follow thy word continually and to thank thee all the days of my life, for thy goodness and mercy in sending these little jewels into our home. (July, 1966)

POWER HUNGRY

When we think of power hungry men, we usually think of a president or a governor, determined to impose his will by crook, hook, or any means, upon people and nations and states. We have seen these things happen in the world, among its leaders, in our nation and state many times, and I am sure you, as I, have seen it even in our own county. It is the most despicable and sickening attitude a person can have. Those who are afflicted with it are detrimental to themselves, their own cause, and those they think they love the most. Their pathway is strewn with ruination, corruption, dishonesty and heartbreak, The most notorious symptoms are, “I am the best, no one else can do the job like I can; you can’t do without me; I am the only answer; everyone should be glad they have me to lead them.”

However, government and politics is not the only cause afflicted with power hungry citizens. A church member can be the same way. A deacon or preacher, determined to impose his will upon the church, is just as sickening. Sure, a deacon is supposed to see after the business of the church, but nowhere do we find, is he to make the decisions for the church. The power hungry deacon will decide who he wants for pastor of the church, and then try to force his will upon the members of the church. The humble deacon with the prayerful attitude of a spiritual character will talk to the membership of the church, admonishing them to pray unto the Lord for guidance, and then upon determining what is the mind of the church, proceed. He should always be mindful of the desires of the church in the decisions of the body, but the power hungry man will try to actually be the mind of the church.

The same is true of the minister. While we would certainly note, one must defend the doctrine of truth against all attacks, because in this there is no compromise. However, this does not include the attitude of, “You can’t do without me.” Neither does it include a mounted campaign to get called to pastor a church.

Nations, states, and counties must have laws and rules to govern them, which they call constitutions. Sometimes men will ignore them, or they may be cunning enough to misinterpret them without giving the clear cut appearance they are breaking them. It is quite different in the house of the Lord. The attitude the apostle Paul had, which so well prevented a power hungry drive in him, and which will also work with you and me, was to realize where the power was, and where the praise was due.

1 Cor. 2:3-5, “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching, was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.”

We might fool our brethren, we might even deceive ourselves, but we will not fool our Lord. The law he laid down still prevails.

Matt. 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Oct., 1966)

ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Those who upon hearing that the Lord takes care of the salvation of the objects of his love without the help or assistance of men, and who wonder, “What, then, is there for man to do, surely haven’t studied the above scripture. I want to first point out that they are brethren. That they are admonished to do the work under consideration by the mercies of God, leaving all the praise of man out of it. For us to understand who the apostle was telling to do this, we need to see who the letter was written to. “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints; Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is the beloved of God in Rome, those called to be saints. It is not the dead sinner.

Service has never been judged by intentions. The accomplishments of the saints, and the blessings of God are not measured by good intentions. I see drunkards practically every day, with the best intentions to quit drinking, but do not. Their life almost always comes to desperation, their family torn and ruined, because they do not carry out those intentions. The benefit comes in carrying out the intentions and desires of the heart, if those are good and noble things. Evil intent and desires carried out bring evil fruit.

God requires a living sacrifice. Thus, if we see a brother in need and desire to give him $10.00, and don’t, that intention has not benefitted him or us. If the intent and desire is in our heart, and we carry it out, that is living it. Many of the saints of God have come to old age, and their death bed, and still imbedded in their heart is the desire to join the church of God. God did not bless them, because of the intent, for he gave it to them, and that is a blessing; but the blessings come in the carrying out of this desire. Thus, we can intend to be baptized all our life and never receive the blessing there is in it. The only way to receive it is to do what we desire or intend to do. This is the reason why a person fails to have a clear conscience before God until he carries out his feelings.

Others have desired to wash the saints’ feet, never carrying out their desire, and thus never receiving the blessing in so doing. The intent was not acceptable to God. Had it been, he would have blessed those who wanted to wash feet as much as he would those who do wash feet.

We can intend to visit the saints in their homes and the Lord will not bless us for those intentions. We can intend to visit the sick and afflicted, but the blessings do not come until we get there. We can intend to go to church, but if we are not there, neither is the blessing. We can intend to be a better member, attending more regularly, but if we fail to so do, the blessing will also be missing.

We see the saints of God, all of them with pure heart, and thus a godly intention in their hearts to worship and serve God, some of them living in the church, and some of them staying on the outside. Each one of them had the same desire and intention, I am sure, but some of them carry them out, and have the peace that God reserves for acceptable service, and the other receives the stripes pronounced upon those who know to do good, and do it not. Those shall be beaten with many stripes.

I recall a few years ago, two brothers, both of them, I feel, with hearts made pure by the power of God. One lived in the church; the other stayed on the outside, and is still there. The one on the inside was washing the feet of his aged father. It was indeed a beautiful sight, but the doing of it is better felt than told. The one on the outside could hardly bear it. I could tell his heart would almost break, but God was not blessing him for the intention of the heart, for he reaped not the satisfaction. Who reaped it? Why, the one who was washing his aged father’s feet.

God does not bless us in intending to be a living sacrifice. He blesses us in being a living sacrifice. This is not Sunday living. This is every day of the week. It is just as bad to curse on Monday as it is on Sunday.

If you intended to go to church today, but didn’t, where is the service? If you intended to join the church last Sunday, but didn’t, where is the service involved? God gave us this will or desire or intention. It is a blessing from the mighty hand of God. But he has given us a reasonable way to serve him, and each other, and yet receive a blessing in doing it.

The next time you have a good intention, do it. Then notice how much better you feel after you do it. You didn’t feel better until you did it. So it is in the doing. It is the living sacrifice which is acceptable with God. “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Are we bearing fruit? It is not done with good intentions, alone. God gives us the intent. If we carry out that intent, we bear fruit; it is a living sacrifice to God and it is acceptable to him. (Nov., 1966)

Take the first step

A young brother asked me recently, “What makes a person keep putting off joining the church?” He went on to explain that he had considered and thought he would ask for a home in the church, even as a small lad, but just kept putting it off to the present time.

The only answer I could give to him was from my own experience. Just make up your mind you are going to take the first step, and then the rest will come easy. How well I remember, when a lad of 13, I decided I would beg for a home with the good brethren and sisters. The desire was there, and I was determined in my own mind I was going to do it at that time, yet, somehow, I knew when the moment came, it would be harder.

It is amazing to think that the failure to take this one step can keep a person from the joys of the church, yet so much is said in this one step. A person taking it, in effect says they are not ashamed of the testimony of God, or of his prisoners. They are no longer reluctant to praise God openly and publicly. This brings them relief and a clear conscience toward God. This is good and necessary for a soldier of the cross.

Last second Saturday, during the baptizing at Gum Pond, one came out of the water and said, “That is something I have wanted to do since I was a small child.” Another said, “I don’t know why a person will just keep putting it off.” Another told me afterward, he made up his mind about 3 or 4 months ago he was going to offer himself to the church, but just didn’t get around to it.

Yet, there were so many more with tears of joy and the evidence of God’s love shining in their face, who put it off a little longer. I just thought, one little step alone separates them from so much joy. Yet they continue making the same mistake that others have made. The only way to change it is to take the first step. (March, 1967)

Today is the day of salvation

Something that troubles me greatly is the tendency of God’s children to achieve for themselves the luxuries of the world to the exclusion of dedicated service to honor the name of God. The reason I am so mindful of this failure is that I must pause and take inventory so often on my own direction. I find that I begin to think, now I will just work hard a year or two to get such and such done, and then I will have more time to live as I so want to among the Lord’s children.

Let us each meditate on how fast life does pass. Like the poet says, “Time like an Indian arrow flies.” Do we stop and think that the joys among the Lord’s children, which we miss today, cannot be regained tomorrow? We may be blessed to go to church tomorrow, even if we do neglect to attend today, but we cannot catch up on what we have missed. The same for visiting the sick and aged. For giving to the needy. For encouraging one of the Lord’s little children.

Two poems bear heavily on my mind that have been printed in the Pathway of Truth. One concerns the person who planned to do so much tomorrow, but kept putting it off until he had no more tomorrows. The other written by a man who worked and slaved, that he might retire and have plenty provided for later life, and discovered at last, with children and loved ones gone, that the Lord had given him a life to enjoy every day, not just when old. Look how many years he had missed.

Of all things that plague a church today, this is probably the worst of all. A great part of young and old alike are working so hard to have the things of life, we don’t have enough time to enjoy the things that God blessed us to enjoy as a spiritual being. People can’t go to church but once a month. Can’t visit the sick. Don’t have time to go sit with the brethren and sisters and enjoy fellowship. When they are asked to go home with someone, they can’t; have to go home. Some will say, this is just the way people do me, and oh, I do love company. But have you stopped to think that you are one of the worst in neglecting to visit in the homes of others.

We have no promise of the morrow in this life. That we neglect doing today, may remain undone. How much better to do what we should do, than to wish we had. This is the reason we are thus admonished. 2 Cor. 6:2, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee; behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Older men, older women, you may be looking forward to retirement, and going and doing more of the things the Lord has impressed you to do, but did you know you should be doing this now, not tomorrow?

Young man, young woman, you may be looking ahead, buying a nice car, buying two cars, building a home, working hard that you may have a better chance tomorrow, to go to church and do the things you should, but now is the day of salvation, not tomorrow.

Have you ever thought, how I wish I had the money to pay this person’s hospital bill, to help this old saint or to do this or that? I have. Why don’t we have the means to do it with? We would probably do like we do everything else, put it off until tomorrow, until we could make another thousand or two dollars. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.

You may think this is unreasonable, but think with me a moment. The times children of Israel worshiped and prayed to God the most were not the times they seemed to be enjoying the richest of God’s blessings, but instead when they were in captivity. History shows there were more dedicated Christians when they were forced to hide in dens and caves to worship God, than when religious freedom was granted. In the birth of our nation, very few people failed to go to church in the midst of famine, disease, and drought, Indians, food shortages, and so forth. Today, only a small portion attend church regularly. In the days of the horse and buggy, and wagon, the church houses were full. Today, how long has it been since you saw a church house completely full? We can ride in air-conditioned cars now.

I hope the Lord will bless me to bear these things in mind all the days of my life. I want to live my life every day, not always waiting for tomorrow. I want to go to church now. Let our prayers be that God would grant us all grace to live this way. This attitude and dedication would make the largest church, or even the smallest church, a place of heavenly bliss. (June, 1967)

HOSPITALITY

1 Pet. 4:9, “Use hospitality without grudging.”

The apostle addressed this letter to strangers. We are indeed strangers in this world, but I feel to be no stranger in the homes of those that bestow upon me, loving, godly hospitality. The experience one gains in this feeling of hospitality, either in giving or receiving, is one of the greatest blessings of life. This is a blessing that does still exist among Primitive Baptists, but I feel the desire to exhort that hospitality be put to greater use.

The word use certainly denotes action. We cannot use hospitality unless there is visitation between us and our brethren. Even the importance of going to church will not bring joy unless we have the desire to be with each other. This is the reason that many times as we accept someone’s invitation to lunch, we sometimes end up spending the entire day. Then, maybe, we will go by and visit several others before we journey home late that night. I always have a very empty feeling when the final good-byes have been said, and our little family must leave the company of our kindred in Christ, both members of the church and believers in the Lord, who are not yet members. It is the same in our own home, when these dear ones must leave. This same desire to be together is the reason why we are in no hurry to leave the church.

From the time of my earliest childhood, I can remember the joy of having others to visit us. Many times around the fire at night, I would sit as long as my eyes could possibly stay open, and listen to preachers and others talking on the scriptures. I feel this had a vital part in showing to me some of the beauties of God’s people.

Many cannot understand that the pastor is invited to use this hospitality by eating lunch or other meals with the members. Many stare at me with open mouth amazement, when I relate how that often 15 or 20 people will invite, or rather insist, that we go home with them from church and enjoy this hospitality. With many people today, the coming of the preacher is a time of dread, and there is a sigh of relief when the tremendous task of feeding him is over. Not so among the Primitive Baptists. Many times we are asked to enjoy hospitality in the homes of those who are not members. How I enjoy the sweet communion with the saints of God.

I worry, that today, in these changing times, many may begin to drift away from this very basic rule of Christianity. Many families do not use hospitality as they should, and, therefore, miss the joys they should enjoy. Many today must always go home. The younger, blessed with searching minds in their youth, miss more than possibly our older, when hospitality is not used. There are many who have never had the privilege of sitting around the fire and listening to different brethren discuss the scriptures. This Bible way to show our love for one another must be cultivated. Fine furniture and food are not necessary to have your brethren in your home. We should be thankful for what we have. Better by far, is a bowl of peas with cornbread in true hospitality, than all finery with a grudging hospitality.

This way we show that we love to be with one another, and share with each other all our possessions. Doesn’t this manifest the same feeling that we hope to experience in the resurrection from death and the grave, to be with our Lord and Savior and the redeemed, to share together with them the eternal joys of our Lord. (Feb., 1968)

The love of this present world

2 Tim. 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

“Having loved this present world….” This denotes the snare that entangled Demas. The apostle Paul did not mean we were to completely divorce ourselves from our natural needs and life. Neither should we deceive ourselves into thinking that the joys and opportunities that this world offers can take the place of serving and praising our Lord.

Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. We yearn and think about our treasure. If our treasure is the world, then our thoughts are not upon the Lord. It is upon the world. We are strange creatures. We cannot serve God and Mammon. We cannot serve two Gods. Our heart can only be toward one God.

Let us take inventory of ourselves. Do we think of the riches of the world? Then we cannot at the same time think of the riches of God. Do we continually think of the pleasures of this world? (New cars, boats, fishing, hunting, ball games.) Then we have not left time to think of the pleasures of the Lord. (Going to church, visiting the saints, rejoicing continually in his mercy.)

So Demas left the apostle Paul because the world was a drawing power to him. Many of the Lord’s children leave the church and faithful service to their God, although their names stay on the church rolls, because they have too much of the world in their lives. Is this our condition? I find I must fight it daily. Are you fighting it, or have you given up? Are you able to justify yourself in doing the wonderful things like going to church only when some worldly affair does not interfere? Do we excuse ourselves when our going to church becomes farther and farther apart?

As we lay down upon our bed tonight, let us meditate. Are we forsaking God, his servants and the church? Could we have made arrangements to go to church last meeting time? If we didn’t, why didn’t we? Was it because we are forsaking the Lord’s service and praise, because we loved something else better? The world, maybe? The Lord help his people return to faithful service. (May, 1968)

Walk as children of light

Eph. 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light.”

The things we do should have no reason to be hid. Our works should be in righteousness, and as such should be in the light for all to see. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Matt. 5:16. We are to walk and work in the light that men may see. This is the commandment given by our Lord to his people. Good works done in secret and thus in darkness by the Lord’s children, do not follow the commandments of God.

Often a good friend of mine, who is aware that Primitive Baptists do not hold in their fellowship, known members of secret orders, will say, “I just do not see why Primitive Baptists do not accept them.” I feel it is my duty to give what I feel the Bible teaches on the subject. I want each one to be aware that many of my closest and dearest friends are members of secret orders. I do not feel it my duty to criticize them in that which they honestly and sincerely believe, but to inform those who are members of the Primitive Baptists, and those who wish to be, the Bible position on the question.

We should not deny that secret orders do some good things. My friends among them tell me they do, and I could not doubt their truthfulness. I consider the error in it to be, that any good which is done, is not done openly, so that all might see, rejoice and glorify God. This would be bringing it to light.

Eph. 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

One has to but observe a peach grown in the shadows along side one grown in the open sun to see that the more light the better. Much more vivid then is the difference in any plant or animal compared, which is grown or lives in total light or total darkness. It is the same with the Lord’s children. They were not created to grope in darkness, and in secret, but in the light to God’s glory.

1 Pet. 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

To show forth the praises of him who hath called us, we must live our lives and perform our deeds for all to see. Even if you do a good work, and you do it in darkness and in secret, how would others know whether your work is good or bad? The workers of iniquity do their works in dark and secret places. We should not be found there as the children of the light. Even if our works are good, which we might do in secret, others will wonder why we want to hide to do them. People would wonder if we were ashamed of them.

Eph. 5:12, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

From my observation of secret orders, I notice the thought that if a person has been a good and faithful member, then, because of their faithfulness they can expect to be received into eternal glory. The Bible does not even teach that faithfulness in the church will give us a home in heaven. This would be a doctrine of the works of man. Only one thing gives us the right to heaven and that is the blood of Jesus. Our sins are not remitted by what we do. Heb. 9:22, “And without shedding of blood is no remission.”

1 Pet. 1:18,19,”Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things….but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.” So then a person could not possibly believe in the doctrine of grace as a Primitive Baptist, and at the same time believe in the doctrine of works. You cannot serve two masters.

Secret orders are very religious. The facts of the above paragraph, in reality, makes it a religion. Hence you could not be a member of two religious orders. I feel it would be the same to advocate that a person would have the right to be a Methodist, and a Primitive Baptist at the same time, as that a person could be a member with the Primitive Baptists and a secret order.

Finally, the Lord’s house, or the church, is established in the top of the mountains. Isa. 2:2. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it.” All the good things that you and I have the ability and talents to do can and should be done in the church. Hence, we have to choose between the highest organization there is in the world (the church) or one below the Lord’s house. I would that all God’s children would do the same. Many have chosen other organizations. Yet I know they are God’s children, and I hope to strike hands on the other side. For we will be there solely because of God’s grace.

May I admonish all to follow this rule which Christ gave in Luke 11:33, “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.” Let us walk as children of light. (Aug., 1968)

Peace or Surrender

Many people today, not only in the world, but in the church, confuse surrender with peace. Peace is a condition that exists when groups of people have the same desires, in unity, traveling in the same direction.

Surrender is the condition that prevails when two or more groups get together, and one or both sacrifice some or all the things they stand for, and which they believe is right, in order to have peace, which is not peace.

There is no way we may have peace with those that would remove the old landmarks, regardless of their profession in a belief in the doctrine of grace. There is no way to have peace with those who would defile the precious and beautiful doctrine of our Savior with a slackness toward the discipline of the church.

In the days of Nehemiah, while he was directing the Jews in building the walls of Jerusalem, the enemies mocked. The enemies called them feeble Jews. But when they saw that the breaches in the walls began to be stopped, they conspired to come together to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it. You will find the enemies of those building the walls of Jerusalem today, mocking them. But everything is just mocking until they see the breaches of the walls begin to be stopped. Then they conspire to fight. They want to come and go to Jerusalem without being questioned or stopped by those who love the city. They want the walls to remain destroyed, so they can come and go as they please. Old Baptists, let us maintain strong walls. It is our defense against the enemies of our fair city.

It is necessary to have a watch against the enemies as Nehemiah directed in Neh. 4:9, “And our adversaries said, they shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” Many a faithful minister and deacon has been called a dictator and other hateful names, all because he was faithful to watch and sound the alarm. Many times it is necessary to labor with one hand, and hold a weapon in the other.

But, if you will notice, as soon as the wall was built, the enemies tried another course. Neh. 6:2 , “That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.”

How many times have the enemies, had the attitude of, “We’ll do as we please.” Discipline will be done away with. Then they mock, conspire to fight, and make a noise of peace, when they actually want surrender.

Yes, when enemies see the prosperity of Jerusalem, they want peace with her. That is, if she will surrender her virtue. I believe it is much better to look to the fields that are white unto harvest, to those who have not bowed their knee to the image of Baal, rather than to those contaminated with unsound doctrine and unsound practice, who want the church to surrender. Brethren, let us ever live, hope, and pray for peace. Let us never surrender. (Sept., 1968)

The riches of his grace

Eph. 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

Many will affirm that the blood of Christ is the only thing that will cleanse us from our sins. That we receive forgiveness of them only in and through Christ’s blood. Then they will turn right around and say, “But you must do this or that, be baptized, or join the church, or accept him, or you will not have the benefit of his cleansing blood.

However, we can firmly and joyfully proclaim that we receive redemption and forgiveness of sins according to none of those things which men insist on. It is instead, “according to the riches of his grace.” We have the grand principle of grace or works, the fact that it is all one or the other taught in Rom. 11:6, “And if by grace, then it is no more of works.”

“According to the riches of his grace.” Not our works. Not our acceptance. Not according to our righteousness.

We find this grace in Eph. 2:4,5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).” We find this grace in

2 Tim. 1:9, “Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.”

Grace cannot be bound by the conditions of man. It is free grace. That means it comes without works. Rom. 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Rom. 4:4, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Oh, that God’s little children would live in obedience by praising God for his wondrous love, mercy, and grace. This I want to do all my life, my day. “In the Lord do we boast all the day long.” God’s children are happy, when they praise him for his free grace, regardless of life’s trials. God’s children do not find happiness in insisting that man’s work is necessary, instead of free grace, though they be surrounded by the riches of nature.

To all these things I can but bow my head and say, “Thank thee, Lord, that thou hast blest me to receive in the truth of thy free grace. (Sept., 1968)

Possessing our possessions

Obadiah 1:17, “But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”

The fact of deliverance upon Mt. Zion is here reaffirmed. This deliverance can only be received by those who dwell there. Those who dwell elsewhere need not expect to receive this deliverance.

This is the place where the house of Jacob possesses their possessions. No one else has any possessions here. Only the house of Jacob. Jacob was called Israel. He was a Jew. “He is not is Jew which is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly.”

Then those that are heirs of God have possessions here. Thus the gospel and its bidding to enter Mt. Zion (the church) is to God’s children. Those that God has placed his love in their heart.

We have not received this right by our own strength. Neither because God owed us anything. Psa. 44:3, “For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst favor unto them.”

Zion is a place to live. A home. Many people do not possess their possessions. To possess them, you must be where they are. You cannot possess them in a strange land. You cannot possess them out in the world. They may actually be yours by birthright, but if you are away from home, you are not possessing them. All the joys and comforts that would be yours in possessing them will be lost, if you fail to possess them.

Everyone with their name on the church book does not dwell here. But those who truly dwell here shall possess their possessions. This is a definite promise. Blessings so glorious you do not have room to receive them. Cups that run over. Rest and peace are here.

This is a land of plenty. A land of milk and honey. It would be as easy to stand in a downpour of rain without getting wet as to live, truly dwell in Zion, without possessing our possessions.

Yet so many stay on the outside. My God bless you with strength to come in and possess the things that are yours by heavenly birth. Yea, even the joys of our Lord. (Sept., 1968)

MOVIES

I wonder how many parents know the kind of movies their children are seeing. When I was growing up, to take your girl friend to see a movie was as nice a place as young people could be.

Today, in the movies being released, anything goes. I have not seen some of those which are supposed to be so bad. The wife and I saw one about a year ago, and I was shocked. It was not as bad as some I have read about. I realize young people, today, are not ignorant about such things. The worst part is not necessarily the trashy way the movies are made, but the fact that this kind of behavior is often held up in the movies as the way everyone is supposed to act. Our children are still young, and do not go to movies, unless we, or someone else, goes with them to a Walt Disney movie.

I do think if my children were old enough to go to the movies with members of the opposite sex, I would see more movies, so I would be better able to advise and instruct. If your children are going to movies, it would be well for you to find out what they are seeing. When you leave the theatre, and hope no one you know saw you there, you are then aware of the problem, and will be more likely to do something about it.

If enough people will protest filthy movies, they will cease. You might say, “Well, we never go to movies. Then, I would ask, do you have a television in your home? If you do, then the problem is not over in town, it is in your home with you in some of the programs. How can we train our children in the right way and expect them to follow it, when we allow them to be surrounded with other teaching that appeals to the worst of a person’s nature.

Parents, beware. The ungodly are after our most priceless possessions in nature, our children. May our prayers be that God will extend to us his mercy and guide us through this troubled age. With troubled heart. (Oct., 1969)

LOOKING BACK

Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The following are thoughts from a sermon I preached on February 16, 2003 at Vestavia Church in Birmingham.

When I was a young boy on the farm, our method of plowing was between the time when it was done by oxen, and the time it was done by tractors. We used mules for all our plowing. I was the youngest of the boys. While Dad and the older boys plowed, Mom and I were the primary hoe hands. We had to dig the grass out of the cotton that the plows missed. If you used a hoe, it was easy to tell when someone had done a good job plowing. Your work was much easier as you did not have as much grass to dig out from around the plants. As a young boy, I thought it would be better and easier if I could plow, rather than spend all my time hoeing. It looked so easy to plow as I watched Papa and the older boys.

But, when I started to learn to plow, I found it was much harder than I thought. It was necessary to plow a straight furrow when laying off ground for planting, and it was necessary to hold the plow close to the plants to lap the soil over the millions of crab grass plants that had just sprouted after the last rain.

Many times I would think, I need to look back and see what kind of job I am doing, or to see how bad I messed up. Every time I looked back, I made a bigger mess than if I never looked back. I learned to always look forward, and try to learn by my experiences, and do a better job ahead of me. After a time, I became a good plow hand, all because I learned to never look back.

After my farm experience, I could better understand the lesson the Lord was teaching those who wanted to go back and handle something else before they followed him in an acceptable manner. People who have professed a love for the Lord and a belief in him, uniting with his church, have put their hands to the plow. If we start looking back on all the mistakes we make, we will never be properly trained to be a good soldier. But, the Lord finishes that with a statement that should chill us to the bones, if we catch ourselves looking back. He says no man is fit for the kingdom of God who does this!

There is a sense that in remembering our past, we are, and remain, humble and forgiving as Christ forgives our sins. The apostle Paul remembered the wickedness he practiced before that fateful day on the road to Damascus. Though Paul felt unworthy of the blessings, because he persecuted the Church of God, he never let this hinder him from looking forward.

Phil. 3:13,14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Many people ruin their lives by looking back in life. Psychiatry would be a dead trade if people were looking unto Jesus, looking forward. Many lives are warped by the experience of days gone by. They are warped, because the person has rendered himself incapable of looking forward. Much of psychiatry is spent trying to get people to move on from some terrible experience they have had. Sometimes it is abuse in childhood. Sometimes it is a bad experience, such as losing a child, and the mother or father, begin to second guess themselves, and the decisions they made. I had a friend who became so obsessed with his hatred of a man he had a dispute with, that he spent the last fifteen years of his life in total misery. Bitterness brought from the past is like acid in a vessel; it will totally consume the vessel it is in.

Marriages are often torn apart by looking back. Those of us, who have been involved in trying to save marriages, know the signs of looking back. We know when we are trying to find the cause and the woman says, “Why he didn’t give me a Valentine’s card in 1988.” Or he may say, “Right after we married in 1979, she made a hateful statement about my mother.” If people were as capable of forgetting that part of the past that keeps them from looking forward, while they are living, as they are when someone dies, it would be a wonderful life. Did you ever see a negative thing on a tombstone? People tend to forget the bad that hindered their joys, when the loved one dies.

This simple message that the Lord gives is applicable to the church that is in dispute, and without a pastor. Church trouble is caused by people, who have put their hands to the plow and are looking back. As long as you spend your time thinking and talking about what someone in the church said or did last week, last month, or last year, you are looking back. A church must look forward, and not look back on the little things that disturbed them.

I can tell any church how to solve its problems. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back. Look unto Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer. Look at how wonderful the joy is as you sit under the sound of the true gospel in sweet communion with God and fellowship with the saints. Remember the church as a place of refuge. A place on the mountaintop where God gives you wonderful glimpses of glory. Remember, Christ had his joy set before him. Neither is our joy behind us, but before us. Aren’t we glad that God is not looking on our sins of yesterday, but seeing us some sweet day as white as snow? Christ saw all his sheep in heaven during the pain and suffering of the cross.

It may be that the reason we cannot get along with those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ, is all because we are not fit for the kingdom! (Feb., 2003)

PART THREE

DOCTRINAL

ANOTHER GOSPEL

Paul let the Galatians know that if they were removed from the gospel to which they had been called, it was not another. There is only one. The rest are perversions. A perversion would be a gospel, so far removed from the true gospel, that it is not just a difference of opinion.

It is important to know the difference and to refuse to hear those who pervert the gospel. It was so important that Paul said, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed,” Gal. 1:8. Accursed means excommunication, or not in the body of fellowship.

Paul gave the Romans this direction. Rom. 16:18, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Let us look at some perversions of the gospel. When some brethren from Jerusalem came to Antioch, teaching that you must be circumcised to be saved, the apostle Paul did not advocate an immediate non-fellowship for the brethren at Jerusalem, but rather went to see if that was truly what they believed.

Acts 15:2, “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

As Paul discovered, this perversion was not believed by the church at Jerusalem, but by some of the Pharisees who believed. The church at Jerusalem wrote letters disavowing such a perversion.

In later years, some brethren began to preach that Christ really didn’t save his people, but he made salvation possible to those who believe and repent. They began to teach that those who live in heaven are those who hear the gospel and obey. But when we read Matthew, we find this is a perversion of the gospel.

Matt. 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.”

The salvation of his people is sure and based upon Jesus and not obedience of man. We must mark and avoid these people.

Others began to teach that you must be baptized by water baptism to have our sins remitted. This was just an extension of the above perversion. We know it is a perversion by the following scriptures.

Heb. 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

1 Pet. 3:20,21, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Water baptism is a figure of the remission, and is not the remission. We have no fellowship with this perversion.

Others teach that there is no resurrection of the wicked. This is a very abominable perversion, for it challenges the words of Jesus.

John 5:28,29, “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

The true gospel can have no fellowship with this perversion.

The Calvinists and absoluters came along and claim that God has set all obedience, accidents, wickedness and diseases out in his decrees, and that they are included in Rom. 8:28-31. They claim that God does not cause evil, but that he takes every bad thing that happens to you and turns it into your good, not that he can overcome evil and bring good. Their perversion claims that if a 30 year old mother has incurable cancer, with three or four little children at her feet, and a heartbroken husband, that God is going to work all this to the good of all in this household, if they are children of God. What a terrible perversion of the gospel. Let us again look at the scriptures.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknew, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Do you see the words accidents, wickedness, and diseases listed with the five wonderful things which work together for our good? Of course not. It is not there. The apostle didn’t put it there, because it is not true. That is a reason it is a perversion of the gospel and not a difference of opinion.

Elder R.H. Pittman wrote in the March, 1928 issue of the Advocate and Messenger the following: “Of course, the brethren who have extreme doctrines and modern practices do not ask that we adopt them; but their plea is that we tolerate them. Toleration, however, is all that error ever asks until it grows strong enough to make demands.”

We can have no fellowship with gross errors in the doctrine and practices which have been given to us by our Lord. (April, 2004)

Misconceptions concerning predestination

Misconception # (1) To believe in predestination, you must believe that God predestinated some to heaven and some to hell. This is false. The Bible does not teach this. Of the scriptures concerning predestination, not one of them says anything about, nor infers, that any person is predestined to hell. The Bible not teaching such, Primitive Baptists do not teach it or believe it. Predestination deals with the final destination of his people into the eternal joys of heaven and bliss.

(2) God foresaw who would do good in this world, and would accept his Son, and predestined those who do this to be his eternally. This is false, for it would leave salvation to the works of man entirely.

Rom. 8:29, “For whom he did foreknew, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

He foreknew a people and predestined them, not just foresaw them. This foreknowing is loving them before. For proof we turn to John 17:23,24, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me….for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.”

Then if he loved us as he loved Christ, he loved us before the foundation of he world. His love for us caused us to love him, so that God’s love for us is the basis and cause for everything good and righteous we do, and not the reverse, that what we did, or what God saw we would do, caused him to love and predestinate us. 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

(3) God predestinated everything whatsoever comes to pass, good and evil. This is false. The all things that work together for good to them that love God, are enumerated in the next two verses: foreknow; predestinate; called; justified; glorified. Rom. 8:29,30. God is not the author of sin, as he would be if such were true that he predestinated good and evil. How do we know?

Rom. 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

If God caused murders, the murderer should not be punished, for God would be the author. Heaven forbid that we accuse God of evil.

(4) God predestinates our good work, or at least, some of them, so that we have no choice. This is false. This idea is the most dangerous misconception, because it more easily captivates those who otherwise teach the truth. The reason is obvious. The drawing of God’s love, the feeling within us, has such a power on the life of his children, we could very easily be confused into thinking God forces us to do it.

Those who believe and teach the above idea always deny that they believe in absolute predestination (everything that comes to pass), but they do. If obedience and good is predestinated by God, then disobedience and evil would also be.

Isa. 1:19, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Many statements made by those who believe this doctrine often contain some element of truth, and that is the reason many people will become confused about it. As an example, a minister was preaching about joining or uniting with the church. His example is as follows, which is absolute predestination, pure and simple.

“God’s invitation for you to join his church is like your greetings to join the army. If you don’t go, they will come after you.” The preacher was trying to tell the congregation they really did not have any choice, that they were going to join one way or another.

Let us note the whole truth. If you do not respond to your greetings or draft into the army, they will come and get you, and you will suffer the punishment, shame, and disgrace, and you may even be put in prison. None of this means you will ever be in the army, but it will make you wish you had not rebelled. Those who feel a desire to unite with God’s church and do not, may never unite with the church, but the remorse they have for rebelling is the greatest anguish known to man.

Another who believed this misconception was expressing thanks for the food set before him. “Thank thee Lord for this food thou hast caused to be prepared for us.” Doesn’t sound too bad at first hearing, does it?

Yet, it will run you straight to absolute predestination, for what God caused could not be otherwise. God did cause the goodness and love to be in the good sister’s heart that prepared the food, for he called her by his grace. This is part of it. He did not cause her to prepare the food. She could have stayed in bed, and told the visitors to prepare it themselves. However, because of the goodness and love God placed in her heart, she would have felt bad not to prepare the food. See how crafty those who teach this doctrine must be. That is why in many areas, it has crept in unawares.

I have dealt with this false doctrine and misconception of predestination more, because it has confused many, and today is being taught by many claiming to be sound Baptists. Many of our northern brethren have never heard of it. It is found mainly in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

(5) We have a time fixed by God (predestinated), to die, and we cannot go before our time, nor stay a minute longer. This is also absolute predestination in that, for this to be true, God would have to guide the hand of him who cut throat of his brother, and thus caused his death. Often you will hear a person say, “I believe this much like a Primitive Baptist, that every person has a time to go.” Yet, sound Primitive Baptists do not believe this false doctrine, for it is not taught in the Bible.

Let us examine a scripture often used to try to prove this error. Eccl. 3:1,2, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die.”

The time to be born is about nine months from the time of conception. This is the normal time. Yet some are born sooner; some are born later. The normal time to die, to use an example is three score or 60 years. Some die sooner, and some die much later. What makes the difference that the time for everyone is not the same?

The difference is conditions and circumstances; some we have power over, and some that other people do. The time we are actually going is when all the necessary things to cause death meet us, whether it be sickness or accident.

Thus we go to a doctor when we get sick, yet if we didn’t think we could go before a set moment in our lives, we would be foolish to go to a doctor. A baseball catcher wears a catcher’s mask to prevent being struck in the face, possibly causing death. We drive an automobile and stay on our side of the road, stop for red lights and stop signs, keep good tires, all because we really believe we could go before our time. If we really don’t think we could go before our time, there would be no need to watch our speed when driving, nothing could happen to us that wasn’t supposed to. Doesn’t that sound silly? It is silly.

Some corn you plant will have a season or time to mature of 105 days. Yet, very, very seldom does it mature and die at this time. Sometimes it does not take this long. Sometimes it never fulfills its season. When I used to plow a mule and it would reach over and bite down a stalk of corn, the corn died before its time of 105 days, as we can die before our time, which is our normal life expectancy, or our example, we used 60 years.

Eccl. 7:17, “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish; Why shouldest thou die before thy time?”

Die before our time, really! If you do not believe we can die before our time, (normal life expectancy), look at those who die from an overdose of drugs, car wrecks or at war. God has not, and did not fix our time of death.

(6) God’s predestined work is revocable, and changed, if people fail to live faithful in all things. This falsehood is conceived by intelligent well educated people who know they cannot get by with saying predestination is not taught in the Bible. So they do not deny predestination is taught, but instead deny the effects of it, so as to conform to their false doctrine.

While there are untold numbers of scriptures to refute such an obvious perversion of the word and work of God, two will be sufficient. James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Mal. 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” God never turns or changes from his plan and purpose. Those who say he does are accusing God of lying and they show a disbelief in the scripture.

Some scriptures often used to try to show that God changes are similar in teaching to that in Jonah 3:10. “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” This is God dealing with his creation according to the rule of his promises. They showed a fear of God by repenting and turning from their evil way. God’s rule in such matters is clearly shown in Isa. 3:10,11, “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” It was the city of Nineveh which changed, and not God. He is still the same today. Every work shall reap its own reward.

As we come to the conclusion of the matter, after due consideration of the truth of predestination as taught in the Bible and the misconceptions as taught and believed and used by others, God will deliver his people to the final and eternal glorified bliss.

Rom. 8:29,30, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

The same ones he foreknew (foreloved) will finally be glorified! You cannot take the language of the above scripture and come to any other conclusion. Rom. 8:30, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Hallelujah to the Lord. (1971)

The main point in the division

of the Baptists in the 1800’s

Many people ask about the differences in the teaching of those who call themselves Baptist. The church is identified by her doctrine, rather than by name. I love the Baptist name, as my Lord was baptized by John the Baptist.

There were some differences of belief among the Baptists before the 1800’s, but it was shortly after 1800, that some began advocating a departure from the teaching of the apostles in order to bring universal salvation to the world. These thought that many, who should be in heaven, were going to hell as a result of not hearing the gospel. To teach this error, there were many points of doctrine which had to be changed. With these changes they went from truth to error.

One thing that had to be changed was the Baptist held belief in the election of God. Election means that God loved us, chose us, and died for us, and will regenerate us, all without the participation of the sinner, that it is totally by the grace of God without works. It is God who showeth mercy. Election teaches us that all the family of God will be in heaven, because of the perfect work of God, from the beginning to the end. Not one will be eternally lost.

Another change was in applying the Great Commission made to the apostles, to the church instead. Christ told the apostles to go, not to be sent by the church. Mark 16:15. Christ sent them and they went. If either a minister or church claims to have this authority today, they can prove it by demonstration of the powers in verses 17 and 18. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” If the commission was given to the church, then people would certainly be within scripture authority to shame churches, and compel them to support efforts around the world.

Elder Leon H Clevenger, a dearly beloved minister from Missouri in the last century, writes in his book Meditations Along the Gospel Way, “This commission was given to the eleven apostles as individuals and not the church as a body….It was largely over this point that the division came in 1832, between the Missionary Baptists and the Primitive Baptists, who before this time were one body.”

Following this, one must change the Bible doctrine to advocate the necessity to hear and respond to the gospel in order to complete eternal salvation. There are many variations of this belief. Those who advocate such have usually left the Old Line Baptists, and they should. If one does not hold the beliefs as taught in the Bible, and believed by the true church, rather than cause trouble, they should go where people believe this change. (See article reprinted from the pen of Elder Harold Hunt in this issue.)

I certainly do not know of any authority to send the minister other than that taught in Acts 13:4, “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” This shows we should be joyful when the gospel is preached anywhere in the world.

I certainly think it is scriptural to financially support a minister in whatever field of labor he has been led of the Holy Spirit to labor, either as a church or individually. Elder Hulan Bass, a much loved and respected elder from the state of Texas writes the following, “There is an erroneous concept that the Great Commission was given to the church, thereby requiring the church to be responsible to support and finance these evangelical outreaches. Some will deny this point. However, many times the very cunning, crafty, sly, plea will be announced (extended) to the church with much finesse, tact, diplomacy, which could very easily cause the church to feel guilty, if they do not financially support the outreach. If such announcement is made, it should be brief and clear, asking only for the church to pray for the endeavor, and that it may be of the Lord. If the church desires out of love in their heart to finance such, then that is a different case. Again, however, they should not be compelled out of guilt to reluctantly finance such.”

We should do as Elder Bass admonishes. If a brother feels the Holy Spirit has directed him in a field of labor, we ought to pray for him that his efforts may show that the Lord is truly with him. We need to be fearful of repeating claims made by those not in that field of labor, lest we come to fight against the Lord. The Lord is fully capable of manifesting his blessings or withholding them.

However, if one is found to advocate that the preached gospel is a necessary component of eternal salvation, all of us who believe in the original doctrine given to us by the Lord and the apostles, must not exercise fellowship with that person. I am perfectly satisfied the dear brethren were right in the 1800’s to stand against the gospel being the means by which we have eternal salvation. If I did not, I would not have labored as I have for almost fifty years. I would hope the churches among which I have labored would still be hearing the true gospel preached, when the Lord comes to gather these bodies from the grave. To do so they must plant and harvest looking to God for the increase. They must not be at war trying to police every church to make sure they conform to our every whim, or else they will destroy our sweet communion with God, and briars and thorns will grow up through the floors.

My concern is that the truth be taught at the churches where I preach and where I hold membership. The truth will be preached, and the commandments of the Lord followed in his church, or he will remove the candlestick. It is not my responsibility to make the decision to remove the candlestick. (Nov., 2001)

A new form of Calvinism

[This book is a collection of articles by Elder Guy Hunt; so this following article of mine is somewhat out of place. But since, in the preceding article, Brother Hunt asked you to read it, perhaps, it will acceptable to include it here. Harold Hunt]

Calvinism has always been able to evolve into a multitude of shapes and forms, depending on who its advocates, and its targets, happen to be.

Frank Mead’s Handbook of Denominations has been a recognized authority for the last fifty years. To give just one illustration, Mead describes Southern Baptists as being more definitely Calvinistic than some other Baptists. Most of us would insist that Southern Baptists are totally Arminian in their doctrine, and yet Mr. Mead insists that, by some standards, they are Calvinistic. This only points up the flexibility of the doctrine, and its ability to modify itself in order to appeal to the present audience. It should be no surprise that Calvinism sometimes fades into various forms of Arminianism. Even though they differ in significant ways, in their most basic precepts Calvinism and Arminianism are very similar. Their greatest similarity has to do with their attitude toward the preached gospel.

The Arminian says, “If you are saved, you must hear the gospel and believe, and it is up to you whether you do.”

The Calvinist says, “If you are saved, you must hear the gospel and believe it, and God will see to it that you do.”

Regardless of the ways in which they are very different, both insist eternal salvation is limited to those who hear and believe the preached gospel. If that is true, the grace of God reaches no farther than the preacher does. That enormously limits the grace of God, to say the least.

In recent years I have been hearing about a new form of Calvinism, which has been considerably modified in order to appeal to a Primitive Baptist mindset. This new form of Calvinism denies the Arminian notion that hearing and believing the preached gospel is a condition one must meed in order to be born again. It admits the sinner must be born again, before he is able to hear and believe the gospel. So far, so good.

By admitting the sinner must be born again, before he can hear and believe the gospel, this doctrine also denies the old style Calvinistic notion that hearing and believing the gospel is the means by which a person is born again. Again, so far, so good.

That is one of the main differences between Arminianism and Calvinism. Arminianism insists the gospel provides the condition, and Calvinism insists the gospel provides the means by which a sinner is born again.

But then, having said all that, this new form of Calvinism insists that if one has been born again, it is inevitable that someday—after he is born again—he will hear and believe the gospel. In other words, if he never hears the preached gospel, and believes it, it is proof positive he was never truly born again.

This doctrine places the same unbreakable bond between the preached gospel and salvation as Arminianism and old style Calvinism do. Arminianism says believing the gospel is a necessary condition to being born again; this new form of Calvinism says believing the gospel is an inevitable consequence of being born again. Both teach that if you never hear the gospel and believe it, you will burn in the flames of eternal damnation.

On that point there is not the slightest difference between this doctrine and Arminianism.

I would hate to think the family of God is limited to the little number we preachers can reach. But that is clearly not what the Bible teaches. God will have the victory, even in numbers.

Rev. 7:9,10, “After this I behold, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Harold Hunt, Nov., 2001)

ALL THINGS

In Acts 2:39, we find all used as a limited term. “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.” If you stretch all to make it more than everyone the Lord calls, you would make the promise of Acts 2:38 apply to every man, woman or child who ever lived. This is wrong.

A few years ago, I heard a man at the funeral of a person, who had been in a terrible accident, use Rom. 8:28 to try to prove to the audience that the good that would come out the heartbreak might well be the salvation of some of the family who were lost. He made it a clear warning from God, that they had better accept Christ before it was too late. Later in life, I held the funeral of a young lady killed in an automobile accident. The father had four daughters, and he loved them with all his heart. I preached the grace of God at the funeral. But, later, a preacher in his community convinced the father that his daughter’s death was a result of his not being saved. I do not know how the man kept his sanity, but the message from the false preacher prevailed, and he, as the world uses the term, got saved. I do not think the man had a real happy moment the rest of his life.

Rom. 8:28 is a scripture of reassurance to God’s people. It assures us that those in the love of God are in Christ, and the safety of Christ, from before Adam was created, until we are finally delivered into that heavenly home. That is the reason Paul carried us from foreknowledge into the final glorification in heaven. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”

The foreknowledge, or fore love of God, worked good for us in bringing the promised Messiah into the world and to the crucifixion for us. “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” This shows how all these things worked together and brought redemption to his people. Redemption was necessary for his people to be in heaven.

These things delivered Christ. “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, he have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” You may notice that these things caused the deliverance, but did not cause the wickedness. You err when you claim all things in Rom. 8:28 include the wicked works of man. Elder C.M. Mills, a devout and able defender of the truth in North Carolina, preached that should you be able to prove that God ordered all the good things that we do, you would have to admit that he ordered all things bad and wicked we do.

Hear the words of Christ. John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

The devil is the father of the lie, of sin, and of wickedness, not God. If the all means everything that happens to us, you make God the father of wickedness, not the devil. What you really mean is that God would be the one that makes the devil do it. What a sad day when this doctrine is taught and believed by any child of God! Are we really ready as a people to claim that when the devil told Eve that lie in the garden that this was really the work of God? If we stretch the all past the work of God in bringing us from the foreknowledge in him to the final glorification, we would have to blame God for sin. My Lord is not the father of sin.

When you change the meaning of the scriptures, it can get real silly. Elder C.O. Woodley, who was a faithful soldier in fighting the doctrine that God has fixed all things good or bad, told me a true story that happened to him. There was a church, which claimed to be Primitive Baptist, but was really a Calvinist church located near his home. They had deteriorated down to three members. One of them got drunk. The other two met and excluded him from their church.

When they relayed the events to Elder Woodley, he was trying to show them how foolish their doctrine was. He told them, “you had no right to exclude him, if as you believe, it was affixed and predestined before time that he would get drunk. It was the work of God, not the man. With a straight face, the Calvinist said, “I know it was determined and fixed before time by the Lord that he would get drunk, but it was also determined and fixed before time, that when he got drunk, we would meet and exclude him from our church.”

What then does the all things include? It includes every action of God necessary to bring about the five things mentioned. The all things are not successful, because of our obedience, or unsuccessful, because of our disobedience.

God does intervene in the affairs of men. When he does, it is a miracle. When Elias was sent to Sarepta Sidon unto a woman that was a widow, it was a miracle. When the Hebrew children were delivered out of the fiery furnace, it was a miracle. When Jesus spoke calm to the troubled sea, it was a miracle. But there were many others in the same day, and in the same circumstances, who were not recipients of these miracles. We need to remember that the eyes of the Lord are always on his people. We need to be of the understanding of the Hebrew children, who did not know if the Lord would deliver, but knew he was able. But these are not the things referred to in Rom. 8:28. They have nothing to do with God’s deliverance of his people to glory. They do have to do with the Lord in his mercy giving his people timely deliverance according to his will.

Many use the experience of Job to try to show that God must give approval for Satan to buffet us. I do not find that God gave him permission, but limited his touching the life of Job.

Jeremiah shows that God is not the author of evil in his writing. Jer. 19:5, “They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind.” You may notice this thing they did failed to work together for their good. Read the following verses and see the evil they brought upon themselves by doing this thing. If one enlarges the all things, it would certainly have to include this episode of wickedness.

The news has just broke that the sons of Saddam Hussein have been killed in battle in Iraq. Should you walk the streets of Baghdad and tell the wailing mothers and wives and husbands of those, whom these two men brutally tortured and murdered that all those evil things would work together for their good, you probably would not survive long. Don’t accuse my Lord of this wickedness!

There are many things I do not understand in God’s dealings with his people. I do know this. I trust him with all my heart. I do believe that no matter how dark the day or night, there is a day coming, when we shall see him with our own eyes, all because of his foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification.

The question is then asked, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Thank God for his glorious mercy, or else there would be no assurance! (July, 2003)

THE WILL OF GOD

There is no doctrine in the Bible more comforting than the power of God to carry out his will, regardless of all obstacles. This is especially true when we read that Jesus came to do the will of his Father.

John 6:38,39, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” This will of God regards us, and our salvation and deliverance to heaven. This duty was entrusted to Jesus, and him only.

King Nebuchadnezzar had it right in the book of Daniel, when he said, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” God is not limited in carrying out his will in heaven, or upon the earth.

Isaiah told of this work in Chapter 53, verse 10. “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

The pleasure of the Lord is his will. Christ was a successful and triumphant Savior. He does not have to have the acceptance of man, nor need he have eternal anguish about Satan, for Satan cannot remove one who is written in the will of God.

For a will or testament to be authentic, there must be a dead testator. Heb. 9:17, “For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all, while the testator liveth.” During my twelve years a Probate Judge of my county of Cullman, I was in charge of probating the wills of all of Cullman’s citizens. After the death of the testator, it was my duty to prove the will of the deceased, and make sure their wishes were carried out, and the heirs received their inheritance. According to Biblical principles, Alabama law recognized that no heir could be added, nor removed from the will of the testator after he was dead. Any number of changes must have been made before his death. Every Arminian, and Calvinist, should realize that there can be absolutely no changes made in the will of God as a result of our faithfulness and perseverance, or lack of it. The will was put in full force and effect with the death of Christ.

The reading of the will was always well attended by all the heirs, even those of great distance, especially when a wealthy relative died. The preaching of the gospel is like the reading of the will. We are told what we have in heaven as a result of being an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ, and what we have in this time life as a result of that eternal relationship. We should make every effort to hear the reading of the will of God as it relates to us, and not absent ourselves from the house of God as the will is read.

The benefits and riches as a result of the love of God for us are far greater than from a millionaire uncle, yet we would not let work, or minor sickness, or any priority, keep us from the reading of his will. Could we not show how much we love the Lord by being as diligent to present ourselves for the reading of his will. What our uncle leaves in his will is timely. What the Lord gives us is eternal.

Many people err, saying that since God is sovereign, everything that happens to us is according to his will. This would make sin and evil and wickedness according to his will. God can intervene at any time it is his will to intervene. That is the reason that James instructs us in James 4:13-15. “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

We pray for things, if it be according to his will. We should not want to do think or say anything that is not according to his righteous will. How do we know his righteous will? Every instruction God has ever given, from the ten commandments to the laws written in our minds and hearts, is according to his righteousness. God knows our weakness and needs, and all his laws are based upon his supreme wisdom. We are not like God, yet we give our children instruction and lay down our laws which we expect them to follow. My children faced consequences when they failed to follow my will.

We face consequences when we violate God’s will toward us. Sometimes they can be severe, as they were to the rich man, who tore down his barns. His greed and selfishness was not according to God’s will, and he lost everything, even his life. Yet, we cannot, and will not lose that eternal life, which God gave us in his will by Jesus Christ. Even with the rich man, God did not make him do his will, but there were grave consequences when he did not.

You remember, the scripture says, God does his will. It does not say that he makes us do his will. But he has set blessings when we do, and things bitter when we do not. Isa. 1:19,20, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

As James teaches us, the Lord can help or hinder us from doing our will. We should always remember, we are not our own. We are bought by the price of the blood of Jesus. But, we should never try to find ways to blame God when we fail. Failure comes from man, not God.

We have much to rejoice in when we know the will of God toward us. It is this will which has given us a title to a heavenly home and written our names in heaven. We should not belittle the will of God by applying it to every act that man performs. No man has a right to walk on that slippery slope. We should remember it has to do with the performance of God. He cannot be hindered so all his family is secure, and can have assurance of their eternal sonship. (July, 2005)

PERSEVERANCE

Eph. 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

The Oxford Universal Dictionary, which gives the meaning of words at the time of the King James translation, gives this definition of perseverance, “Constant persistence in an undertaking; steadfast pursuit of an aim.” This definition is certainly in line with the wording of this particular scripture. The apostle was admonishing the Ephesians to be constant in their journey while traveling through life. Paul begins the thought by giving this direction.

Eph. 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

These are truths taught throughout the Bible. It teaches us how to live and have life more abundantly. Concerning the sheep, Christ said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” John 10:10. We see in the Lord’s words that he gives life, and the right to a more abundant life.

Many writers in the olden time have used perseverance to teach that man will never fall finally away. This is teaching that he will finally reach heaven. Theologians in past centuries meant, “continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory,” when using the word perseverance.

Error comes when people insist that this continuance is based upon man’s continued belief and holiness, rather than upon God’s continuous power and everlasting love.

Further error comes when people insist that God gives the sinner grace that insures he will always walk close with God, and thus persevere in this time life. They might say, “You are going to stay the course, but, of course it is God’s grace.”

We will continue in a state of grace, because we are in God’s hand and not because of any work we may perform. I like the word preserved, when talking of our state of grace in Christ Jesus better than the word persevere. I do not think being preserved in Christ lends itself to false beliefs as much as perseverance might.

However, the older writers were very clear about their beliefs concerning perseverance. Elder Hassell in his book on the History of the Church of God wrote about the perseverance of the saints. Saints are those called of God. So they are foreknown of God, and will be finally glorified with a home in heaven. Elder Hassell tells us on page 509 about James Arminius of Holland, who at one time was a strict Calvinist, but “he came to believe and advocate that the election of the sinner to eternal life is not absolute, but is conditioned on the sinner’s foreseen faith and persever-ance.” This is the doctrine of works.

On page 510, Elder Hassell gives us Article I of the original Arminian Creed. “That God, by an eternal, unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, and for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe in this his Son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith and obedience of faith even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, according to the word of the gospel in John 3:16, and according to other passages of scripture also.”

Rejecting this false doctrine, the church has always believed as the Bible teaches, that we are preserved in Christ, and that the final perseverance of the saints is all of Christ, and not by any works of man. The apostle Peter believed this as he wrote in 1 Pet. 1:5, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Many articles of faith talk of the final perseverance of the saints. I do not criticize that, for we know what it means as the brethren of older times did. Paul knew as he wrote in the 8^th chapter of Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ; shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword; as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us,” Rom. 8:35-37.

Our nation has conquered Iraq, but we are not more than conquerors. Many of our men and women will not come home to enjoy the benefits of winning the battles. Paul tells us in these verses that none of the things he mentions will separate us from the love of Christ, because we are preserved in him, and in that sense it can be said we persevere for all will safely reach that heavenly shore.

Let us always reject the idea of the Arminians that we persevere by our living faithfulness. Let us not adopt the idea of the Calvinist that we are really predestinated to a living faithfulness, so that we persevere. They will all say, but it is by grace. Let us hold fast to the truth that we have been predestinated to the adoption of children of Jesus Christ. That we can never fall finally away, and that whether you use the word preserved or persevere, it is all of Christ, and not by any action we take, not even our believing faith.

As this poor sinner faces the setting sun of life, and I survey the mistakes I have made, the faults I have, the terrible sinner I am by nature, I know the only way I will see that heavenly shore is to have been created and preserved in my loving Savior. But I would not take all the world for the blessed hope of heaven. (Oct., 2003)

PROVIDENCE

Providence is a term we use to refer to the intervention of God in the daily affairs of men. Men who have wonderful wives will always thank God for giving them to them. When we know that according to the laws of nature we could not have escaped certain dangers, we thank God for delivering us. When we make some decision that turns out to be brilliant, and we know we were not intelligent enough to make that decision, we thank God for his blessing.

These interventions differ from God’s intervention in our lives to change our heart from stone to flesh, or feeling, because we are the elect of God. God changes our hearts and gives us his spirit according to the eternal promises of God. This is part of the all things mentioned in Rom. 8:28-30.

We can always be sure those eternal workings will always be carried out. Providence is not in the same category. Notice what the Hebrew children said in the book of Daniel.

Dan. 2:17,18, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

They knew the Lord was able to deliver, but did not know whether he would. When you are in a house about to receive a direct hit from a tornado, and find yourself in the bathtub, watching your house and furniture go out piece by piece, you do not know whether the Lord will deliver you or not, but when it is over, and the only part of your house left standing is where the bathtub is, you know his providence has delivered. You, on the other hand, would have no such doubts as to whether the Lord will deliver his people to heaven or not. You know he will. The Hebrew children, Daniel and David were all delivered from their danger by God’s providence, not by predestination or decree.

In the book of Kings we find where Elijah was sent to a widow about to starve. Christ said there were many widows in the land. Luke 4:26, “But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.” This drought of three years and six months was not working to her good, nor to the good of the other widows, but God showed that the drought was not an impediment to his exercise of his sovereign power in bestowing providence upon a desperate widow. The Hebrew children’s furnace, Daniel’s den of lions, and David’s giant, did not strain the power of God to intervene and change many people’s expected outcomes based on the powers of nature.

I do not have to believe that God pulls our strings like puppets, as some men do, to see him intervening in my life. God gave us an intellect, so we may reason about his word and commandments and make our life better by repenting. When we know of the surety of his eternal promises and see him in his mercy intervening in our lives by his providence, it should cause us to be fervent in praising his holy name. If God makes everything happen in our daily life by insuring it by enough grace, we would not need intellect to make godly decisions.

When Elijah fled from the threat of Jezebel he came to a cave and talked with the Lord. 1 Kings 19:11,12, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” While it does not say the Lord was in the still small voice, he must have been, because Elijah then wrapped his face in his mantle and went and stood in the opening of the cave. This shows to me that even though the Lord was not in the wind, the earthquake and the fire, he was not hindered from delivering Elijah.

In the same way, although the Lord is not orchestrating or directing the drunk to cross into your path, it does not hinder him from delivering you from death by a head on collision. God does not have to have a hand in the beginning of an event to affect the outcome, if it is his will.

One of the young members of one of our churches just had a bad automobile accident. She hit some water and went airborne. The guardrail came into the driver’s side and put the door over near the passenger side, just leaving enough room for a person to survive. You see, you do not have to accuse God of causing this wreck to be able to praise him for his providential deliverance of this young lady.

God can also frustrate wickedness. Gen. 19:11, “And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great; so that they wearied themselves to find the door.” God is not pleased with wickedness, even of his children. We should always remember that after his great blessings, when we seek fleeting riches, we could be as the rich man who tore down his barns.

I have written this article, because I want us all to remember, that as we defend the gospel of the Lord against those who teach extreme Calvinism, that we must not forget the sovereign power of God in his providential care of his sheep in this trying world.

The fact that God knows all things, has all power and carries out his will, does not mean there is a conflict between his decrees and his providence. There is a lot of difference in God suffering something to happen in our life, and his decreeing it or orchestrating it to happen.

Although God has all power, there are wicked men who do harm to God’s children every day in this world. God may suffer it, but he is not orchestrating it. (May, 2005)

ASSURANCE

Isa. 32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.”

Jesus has performed the work of righteousness. By him we are made righteous. As the heavenly king, who walked among men, he put away our sins and made us righteous in the sight of the heavenly Father.

Heb. 1:8, “But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”

He is our peace. He is the King of Peace. He made our peace with God. Rom. 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” We do not have to struggle to keep some law to be righteous. That comes as a gift from the Lord.

I am interested in the effect. There is quietness and assurance forever. He fought the battle against sin and won. He was victorious over the grave, and became the first fruits of them that slept. As the captain of our ship, we have this sweet assurance that we belong to the Lord. The assurance is not just while we are at our best. Even as he chastens us, we have the assurance that we are sons.

Many poor souls have lost their minds trying to be perfect and live without sin, feeling that this was the only way they could live in Glory. The mother who recently drowned all her children had been taught that, when they died at an early age, they would go to heaven, but if later they failed to live faithful to God, they would go to hell.

If the message of the gospel was that we had to live faithful to the end, or we were never born a gain, no one could have any assurance. To think that we could spend our life rejoicing in the Lord, and then have a wayward thought just before we died, and go to hell is not the sweet assurance taught in the Bible.

Our assurance is in the fact that Christ never fails. We know we fail so we cannot depend on our works.

The most miserable people in the world are those who believe their heavenly home depends on how they react to the preaching of the gospel.

When I served as Probate Judge, I was probating a will one day for a young man who had been killed in an automobile accident. The lawyer, whose father was a Calvinist, told me he was this much like the Primitive Baptists; it was just his time to go. I told him Primitive Baptists had never believed that kind of doctrine. I explained to him that for that theory to work, you would take down all the red lights, remove the speed limit, cross at railroad crossings without looking for trains, and just floor board it, for you could not go before your time. He looked at me and said, “That wouldn’t work, would it?”

To apply the all things in Rom. 8:28 to drunks getting drunk and pulling out into the path of a sweet mother with her car full of kids and killing them all, would be accusing God of causing wickedness. I can still see the fire in the eyes of the late Elder C.M. Mills of the Bear Creek Association, when fighting such heresy. He would say, “Don’t accuse my God of such wickedness.”

David had the assurance of God in the most extreme circumstances. “If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” David’s assurance surely came by him knowing his God was always faithful, even when he was not.

I rejoice in the fact that this assurance is not just until we stumble; but it is forever. (Jan., 2003)

CASTAWAY

1 Cor. 9:27, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Paul is teaching us that anyone can become a castaway. The way he would not become a castaway was by keeping his body under subjection.

The Lord had said of Saul (later Paul), to the disciple, Ananias, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel; For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake,” Acts 9:15,16. One cannot say that, because a person is a chosen vessel, he cannot become a castaway. A child of God can lose his way, his peace, and the promised abundant life by a lack of discipline in his own life. Hopefully, we have enough light to not be deceived into thinking one with the grace bestowed on Paul, could not become a castaway. Paul did not think that just because he was a child of God, he would persevere. He knew the glorious truth that he was preserved in Christ. If he could not have become a castaway, he would have been dishonest in suggesting that he could. He was not dishonest.

I was asked today by some of my Baptist friends about the salvation of a man who was killed in a car wreck, who, they said, had not been saved when he had the chance. I prefaced my remarks by reminding them that we Primitive Baptists have a different view. We believe that if Christ died for him on the cross, he will be in heaven by what Christ did.

Their feeling seemed to be that if the young man had died as a baby, he would have been saved, but now he was gone to hell. I told them that if he belonged to the Lord when a baby, he still belonged to the Lord, and would be where the Lord is eternally. They looked at me very strange, as anyone will who thinks there is no difference between eternal and timely salvation.

Don’t misunderstand me about timely joys. I believe anyone who enjoys the Lord’s timely joys will be in heaven. I do not think you can believe the truth without being God’s child. I believe the Bible to teach that anyone must be called and born of God, or else they will not have the timely blessings of salvation.

Notice this truth taught in Acts 2:39, “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.” In the next verse, Paul admonished them to save themselves from this untoward generation, not be saved from sin. Only Christ could purge our sins.

When I was a boy, an old elder, who was a farmer, often talked about the salvation Paul talks about in Philippians. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only; but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Elder Cook always said, “Having salvation is like having a garden. If you have one, you can work in it. If you don’t have a garden, you cannot.” That sure made sense to us farm boys. We all had gardens. It still makes sense today.

You cast away something, because it has now lost its worth. Our worth is in letting our light so shine. Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” If our works fail to glorify our Father, we become a castaway. After he had preached this wonderful doctrine to others, Paul did not want to become a castaway. He did not become a castaway. He fought a good fight.

May we use the grace and talents God has given us, and fight a good fight. Or had we rather be castaways? It would be very sad, if a person believed that one Christ loved and died for would be cast away eternally based upon our actions. For that reason, for a person to have peace of mind, he must rightly divide the word of truth. (Jan., 2003)

Calvinism at the beginning

of the twentieth century

Recently I have printed many articles pertaining to the dangers of the false doctrine of John Calvin. Calvin left the Catholic Church and adopted many of the beliefs the true church had held from the time of Christ. However, his belief that there was no time salvation, but instead all the saints would persevere, was never the doctrine of the true church. In the days of my father, these Calvinists accused us of leaving the doctrine that had been taught by our fathers. If you hear anyone claim that Primitive Baptists have only believed in time salvation for about 75 years, that person is an adversary, not a friend.

From Cayce’s Selected Editorials Vol. 1, pg. 7,8 (written December 24, 1896), “I know that when I first became identified with the Baptists in the country (in 1866), they all believed that our eternal salvation is wholly unconditional, altogether the work of God, but that time salvation, or Christian enjoyment, of the children of God (those already born of God) in this life, depends greatly upon their obedience, and that it (their timely salvation) is in that sense conditional.” Elder S.F. Cayce. (August, 2003)

FIRE BLIGHT

There is not anything that strikes fear into the heart of an orchard owner more than the sight of fire blight in his orchard. I have around 250 trees and vines in my little home orchard. Fire blight is a bacterial disease that strikes apple and pear trees. It is called fire blight, because you will see a limb one day that looks a little wilted, like it is not much to be concerned about. Before you know it, the entire limb is black and dead, for it spreads like fire. It enters the tips of the tenderest limbs of the tree. It seems to strike some of the most promising and fast growing trees in the orchard.

It is always fatal. Amputation of the limb is the only way you can prevent the eventual infection of the entire tree. I spreads easily to the healthy limbs. When you prune during the growing season, you cut it about twelve inches below the visible infection. You then dip your pruning shears in a chlorine mixture to kill the bacteria, for the next cut with dirty shears will infect the tree where you make a cut. While it does not spread during the dormant season, you must carefully prune off the infected limbs, for they are dead, and can still infect the remainder of the tree.

Fire blight reminds me of dread problems in life, and in the church, that have been fatal to so many. First, I will cover two things infecting America. Those two things are drugs and alcohol, which is also a drug.

Drugs affect the young and tender, and oftentimes the most promising, intelligent, and talented. It may not appear to be very bad at first. Many people excuse experimentation with such dangerous substances as a growing up process. Actually, it is a dying process. Many end up in treatment programs and some are brought home in a casket. Treatment programs have very low percentages of cure. It may look harmless to be the participant, and to those who love them, but most times it is fatal. Many college educated men and women, who have had responsible jobs and professions live on skid rows or homeless shelters, because they have lost their self respect, their jobs, and their families. Many a mother and father in the prime of life, with beautiful children, end up with aging circles under their eyes from lost sleep, worry, and expenditure of their entire fortune, with just one child addicted to drugs. It affects and can destroy the whole tree, or family, because of the close connection. It can happen so fast, just like fire blight. You had better ask some tough questions about where your child is, and who he or she is spending time with. Once infected, hindsight does no good. The good life is oftentimes over for the tortured victim and their family.

That is why, when I was Governor, I pushed for the toughest laws for drug pushers. They are the most despicable people on the streets today. They are Satan’s helpers. They do not care about destroying lives. Like infected pruning shears, they infect everything they touch.

In the late 1700’s a fire blight began to infect the Baptists. There were those who thought we had a greater mission than to preach the gospel to God’s born again children. They thought we needed to save people for heaven by spreading the gospel. It seemed harmless at first. There were just a few infected with it. Sound Baptists thought it would run its course without much damage, for it was so absurd. When the Arminian doctrine began to spread like fire blight, it infected some of the brightest, most wonderful, godly men and women then in the church. Sound brethren then began to try to persuade their brethren of the error, and to fight this new doctrine. But, like fire blight, it was fatal. Churches divided, and some churches, because they had a bright gift who led them, went astray as an entire body.

It was a painful process. The Baptist family who had experienced remarkable growth and great spiritual blessings in this new land, now were torn asunder. Sound brethren would have to endure the accusation, that those who believed as the original Baptists were the ones who left the doctrine. It was like walking into my orchard, when it has a bad outbreak of fire blight. It looked like every tree was affected. That which was lost will cause you to lose sleep and mourn.

Almost a hundred years later, a group of well respected and bright gifts decided that the doctrine of John Calvin was really the original doctrine. There are some points that Calvin believed that the church has always stood for. But, Calvinism will actually have men as puppets. In their doctrine, the reasoning power that God has given us, had just as well not been given, for God is the cause of every deed or action we do. We refer to this doctrine as absolutism.

They assert that Romans 8:28 refers, not just to the carrying out of the five principles mentioned following this verse, but to wicked and sinful acts that may invade our lives. Some, recently, have asserted that the holocaust worked together for good to those that love God. I am afraid such could spread like fire blight. We may think it is so repulsive that it would gain no ground. Remember, it is very easy to work in a few of these repulsive assertions among those of us, who believe in the providential work of God in the lives of his children.

We need to pray that God will give us wisdom to maintain sound doctrine in the churches where he has sent us. Brethren, no matter how much we love them, those who become unsound should not be invited to preach to our lambs. It may look to be a small matter, but it can infect good people overnight.

There is a treatment for fire blight before infection begins. There is an antibiotic that can be sprayed in the trees in the spring that is said to be helpful in preventing fire blight. In like manner, we who believe in the good old way once delivered to the saints need to be vigilant. There is no antibiotic like clear and fervent teaching of the whole truth. It sort of inoculates us against unsound doctrine.

But, what if my minister becomes infected? You have to cut him off, just like I cut a limb from a tree, not because you want to, but because you do not want the entire church infected.

Something similar to fire blight has broken out in years past, because people failed to follow the pattern Paul gave to the Galatians, Gal. 1:6-8, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Always before, when a perverted gospel began to be preached, it was preached by brethren who once spoke from their lips the sweet pure doctrine of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (June, 2003)

Proper use of language

Over the years, much has been said about the meaning of Rom. 8:28-31. Some have said there can be disagreement among brethren on these scriptures. I believe to teach anything other than what is taught is really another doctrine. I think of these scriptures as being elementary in the doctrines of the Bible. If you get this wrong, you will not get much of anything right about the Bible.

Recently, I have written about these verses of scripture. I would like to assert the truth as the language gives it to us. Rom. 8:28-31, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” We need to know exactly what the all things are. He then gives us five things that take us from the election to glory, all being of the Lord, and none being of man.

Then he asked a question that calls for a conclusion. The only way we can come to the conclusion he asked for is to have all the information necessary to reach that conclusion. I am not aware of any language that it would be proper to ask for a conclusion without giving all the information you need to reach that conclusion. If there are other things that work together for our good which are not embodied in these five things, then the apostle would have given them to us, so we could reach the correct conclusion.

Remember, what shall we then say to these things. What things? The things the apostle gave us. Just to be sure I was correct, I asked an English teacher to explain what the language meant. His conclusion was the same as mine. It would be improper in any language known to ask for a conclusion without giving all the information needed to reach that conclusion. Paul gave all the information necessary for us to say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The opinion of the English teacher was that the things referred to were mentioned in verses 29 and 30.

If you made a statement to me about your car and said, all the major safety features work together for my good; anti-lock brakes, air bags, radial tires, shocks, and safety belts. Then you ask, what do you say to these things? Just what things are you talking about? I could not respond to anything you did not mention. I could not give you a correct opinion if you did not mention all things you had under consideration.

This scripture is a first grade text. It is as elementary as one plus one is two. When you start first grade and you think one plus one is three, you will never find a correct answer in your math deductions. If you expand these scriptures to include all things that happen to us, good and bad, you make us no more than puppets and violate the basic and elementary teachings of the Bible. (Sept. 2003)

The dead shall hear

John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live.”

The fundamental difference in the doctrine believed by Primitive Baptists and other doctrines boils down to what, if anything, the dead can do. If we follow our experience and recognize the lack of ability of our friends and loved ones, when dead, to respond in any way, by hearing, seeing or obeying, we have a clue to the cause of the inability of those without spiritual life being able to respond. Where there is no life, there is no possible response.

Paul, in writing to the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus, stated the death fact as plainly as possible. Eph. 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Those he was writing to were once dead, but are now alive. These are quickened by Christ according to this writing of Paul.

Only the live respond. Naturally or spiritually, faith and belief are evidences of life, and not conditions to obtain life. We have no spiritual responses until the voice of Christ gives us life.

Once Christ gives us life, it would be foolish to claim some condition must be met in order to claim this life. Remember, it is Christ who gives us life. Life does not come when we cry. Life comes instantly when Christ speaks to our dead being. It does not come at some later time.

The gospel that Christ preached was to those who had ears. Matt. 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” It stands to reason that the gospel Christ preached was to the living. Then our gospel is heard by those who have ears to hear, the living. People have no ability to respond to the preaching of the gospel unless Christ has given them life.

Life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel. The gospel then does not give life, but brings forth the manifestation of that life. 2 Tim. 1:10, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

We all need the evidence and proof that we are alive in the Lord. Obedience, itself, gives us solid evidence that we are alive, that we are his. In obedience we bear the fruits of the Spirit. The chief evidence that one has in disobedience is the chastening of the Lord. Heb. 12:8, “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.”

It is said that Abraham Lincoln once described his religion this way. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad.” There probably is no better description that a man can give of the effects of eternal life abiding within him. (Feb., 2003)

Preserved Forever

Psa. 37:28 “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

Jude 1:1 “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called.”

We observe in these scriptures that the saints of God are preserved forever in Jesus Christ. When we think of keeping something by preserving it, we think of a state or condition that will not spoil. If it spoils, we have not preserved it, but just made a try at it.

There is nothing in the Bible to leave the impression that God has ever tried anything. There is nothing to make us think he has ever failed. The only way, according to these scriptures, to cause a saint to miss heaven, would be if Jesus failed. Will he fail? No! During all the work of God in his plan of sovereign salvation there is no lapse of time when one of his loved ones can perish.

Rom. 8:28,29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

We notice in this scripture that those who love God are the ones who are the called according to his purpose.

When we have the evidence in this life that we love God, it means we have been called of God. We have already been the recipient of God’s eternal love and elect in his foreknowledge and predestination. These two came before you and I had a being in the world. Just as sure as it was the activity and love of God that caused us to receive the first two works heretofore mentioned, we receive the other three in the same way—without any activity on our part. God has not turned any portion of his plan of eternal salvation over to us to carry out for him. Our salvation is not in the hands of failing mortals, but in the hands of an unfailing God, so there is reason to rejoice.

However, we are not left to stumble around without sight, but are given faith to see those things that are dear and hoped for.

We can live as obedient sons in a way that we will have the smiles and approval of God, or in a way to have his frowns and chastising rod. The many teachers in the world have ever been baffled at how a person with the ability to act is so safe from eternal hell. What they fail to consider is the fact that even a natural son cannot act in a way to sever his relationship to his father. The relation will not be good between a slothful son and his loving father, but can you think of anything that would change the fact that he is his son? It is the same way with those born of God.

The Apostle Paul bears record of this in Rom. 8:38,39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus Christ our Lord.”

There is nothing the creature, the powers of the world, or the passing of time, can do to separate from Jesus those that are preserved in him.

We have in Christ this great inheritance, this reserved possession, this final salvation, all ready to be revealed in the last time. Why is it ready? Because we are preserved forever in Christ. He paid the ransom price; the saints are perfected in him, and heaven is reserved. The saints won’t be without a heaven, and heaven won’t be bare for the lack of saints. (May 1962).

No Other Name

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Under the power of Jesus is the sweetest place that mortals can be blest to be. Just how much dependence can be placed in Jesus, and how much should be placed in man, as concerning our eternal salvation with God, is the difference between Primitive Baptists and all the other religions of the world.

We have many people that feel like they play a part in the eternal salvation of their own souls, and the souls of others. Sometimes they boast in what they are able to do, and what they have done, and what they are going to do for the Lord. In so doing, they exalt themselves above God. Psa. 49:6,7, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” David is not talking about natural riches here, but if we feel we can help God in his plan of eternal salvation, we would be very wealthy, and have great riches. But none of them are able to redeem their brother.

The timely element of salvation is often confused with God’s part in our salvation. Be it good works, faith, hope, charity, and all godly virtues are only evidences that God has already saved and redeemed us through his son.

The scriptures supporting the timely element of our salvation can be found in more than fifty per cent of the scriptures, and it is these scriptures that are used by other religions to prove they have a part in the eternal destiny of someone.

One such very beautiful scripture is found in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” The believing and baptism are evidences the mortal has, that God has been merciful to him.

The only condition necessary to be met in order for those that God loved to live in heaven was the death of the cross of Jesus Christ. Every poor mortal blessed to live in eternity with God must point his qualifications to his death on the cross. All the baptism, faithful lives, good works, joining the church, believing in Jesus will not be the cause or help to the cause of living in heaven after death. For in all these things it is necessary for the actions of man to be a part in bringing them about. They are the evidences of life, and not conditions to life.

The Bible said no other name. If baptism did it, it would have to be the name of Jesus and the person who did the baptizing, and the person who was baptized. If believing did it, it would have to be the name of Jesus and the person who did the believing; but the Bible says no other name.

We did not get in Christ Jesus any other way, except God put us there. See 1 Cor. 1:30. We were created in Christ Jesus. This same Jesus was made unto us righteousness, wisdom, sanctification and redemption. If he was made our redeemer by God the Father, and there is something else necessary for us to do in order to have the right to live with God in Heaven, then Christ did not redeem us — we were only redeemed at. As for me, concerning the work and power of God, I will take the word of Christ when he said on the cross, “It is finished,” before I would the word of any priest, pope, church, or religion. Thank God for his Son Jesus. No wonder Paul said, “Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord.” In him and his name we have something to glory and shout about. If God sent him to redeem and Christ said, “it is finished,” that is good enough. (Jan., 1963)

Religion in School Again

In the past few days there have been cries for or against the last Supreme Court’s decision concerning religion in public schools, from the halls of Congress to most religious orders in America. Many of these opinions have been from minds concerned more with forcing their ideas on others than from people, who understand and love our constitution and the background, which caused it to be so worded.

It was no wonder that a people, that had come to this new world, because their way to worship God in the Old World had been suppressed by the religious dictators in that day and age, would want their government to stay out of the business of religion. We could not have religious liberty, unless our forefathers had made sure, by the wording of the constitution, that the state could not establish or encourage any religion, nor suppress the free exercise thereof.

Religious liberty means simply, that we have the right to read the Bible, and no one has the right to force someone else to read the Bible. We have the right to go to church, and no one has the right to stop us, neither do we have the right to force someone to go to church. We have the right not to have Sunday Schools as a part of our religion, but we do not have the right to prevent others from having Sunday Schools to their heart’s content. We have the right to pray, but we do not have the right to force others to pray. No nation or state has the right to be a go between or mediator between a man and his God.

1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

It is my understanding that the ruling of the Supreme Court was that no state has the right by law to compel the Bible to be read in the classrooms. A large percent of the time there could not possibly be any harm in reading a few verses in the Bible. However, everyone that has been watchful to notice has been aware, that some teachers have followed carefully set patterns to try to convey their own idea of the truth by reading scriptures or portions of scriptures, saying enough in comment following the reading to lay before the children the wrong application of that scripture. How well I remember one of my teachers (a fine godly person), who did this every morning in our homeroom after the roll call. He decided to let the pupils take it time about reading the scripture they desired each morning. When my time came, I read 1 Tim. 1:8,9. Needless to say, this teacher did not comment on the scripture that had been read that morning, and the system of the pupils doing the reading was immediately abandoned.

Another very fine person, a good religious person always read us Bible stories from a book that was touched up to make it more interesting to children as a whole. One day, she drew a balance scale on the blackboard, and told us that our good deeds were placed on one side and our bad ones on the other side, and which one overbalanced, when we died, would determine whether we went to heaven or hell. On another occasion, she marched us down to a revival (without the parents’ knowledge or consent), where we heard the preacher tell the pitiful story of a couple of young boys that were run over and killed with a car and went to hell, because they had not accepted Jesus. All we children were at that time about 12 years of age. This was sickening to me, then and even more so now. This was religion being taught in our public schools. All this is the outgrowth of what probably began as Bible reading in the classroom.

In our own state, a few years ago, many Primitive Baptists parents had a sickening time with some teachers and even some school systems, who insisted on giving part of the child’s grade according to whether they went to Sunday School on Sunday.

When my children go to school, I shall expect them to be taught English, and math, and related subjects, together with the training necessary to lead them to success in their natural life. But to teach religion in school is a violation of the constitution of the United States, and also violates God’s holy laws, and tends to place God in a secondary position. It is also a cheap and degrading substitute for the teaching of God’s moral laws in the HOME, by the parents. (June, 1963).

Is God’s Electing Love Unrighteous?

So often people try to down the doctrine of God, as pertains to his choice and election, when actually if we stop and think of its beauty, we wouldn’t change it, if we could.

Eph. 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

We should not forget that he chose us. Since he chose us before the foundation of the world, we were not around to take part in the choice, nor to advise about the choice. For what reason did he choose us? Note carefully that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. If he chose us for that purpose, and he does not take the necessary steps to carry out his purpose, then God has failed. If he does not fail, but instead carries out his purpose, we can say, according to this scripture, that our accomplishments or failures in life had nothing to do with it, because God did the choosing before the world was with foundation.

Rom. 9:13-16, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So them, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

Let him that saith God is unjust or unrighteous tread lightly, else he be found disputing with God. Let us see the beauty of the scriptures above. Love is discriminatory. If it does not single out an object of affection to distinguish it from the entirety, it is not love. If God’s electing love is unrighteous, then so were you when you chose your wife or husband. Why didn’t you just marry anyone, or the first one that came along? Or better still, why didn’t you just call a group of the opposite sex together, and just make this statement: “I love you all just alike, and I’ll marry either of you, if you will just come with me.”

This, of course, is foolish. Yet, God is accused of this type of foolishness. We know we will have our choice, if we have the power. God has the power. See Rom. 8:28-31. If it is possible for love to be universal, why don’t you feel toward every man or woman like you do your wife or husband—or every nation like you do America. Would you be willing to fight and die for Russia like you would America? Why do you have a special love for your parents above other parents? Why do you feel like your children are the prettiest, sweetest, and most precious children in the world? Are you unrighteous, because you don’t feel the same to one and all alike? Of course not, because love is discriminatory.

Are you being unrighteous, if you buy and give your wife a pretty dress and don’t buy the neighbor woman, or a stranger, or enemy, one just like it? You haven’t done any harm toward the one’s you didn’t buy a dress for. you just did a special favor for your wife, because of discriminatory love.

It is the misunderstanding of love, and the thought that it should be universal, together with the disrespect of the obligations of love that leads to fornication, adultery, and divorce. It breeds criminals by not disciplining children in the home and in the school. It lands parents without cause in the care of the state. It causes people to feel we have as much obligation to the people of Russia, Africa, or Asia as to the people of America. It causes people to feel like one church is just as good as another.

God’s love is not unrighteous. If it is, then, your love is also unrighteous. Though the Bible says God is not unrighteous, and that should be sufficient, yet many condemn Primitive Baptists for believing it. I have merely tried to point to our own experience for the beauty of the choice, and obligations of pure love. Love is the foundation of all things worth-while. Love will provide for its own with all the power a person has. With God that power is all sufficient. Rom. 8:38,39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I hope this poor mortal is embraced in the everlasting arms of God’s discriminating love, and if so, I will be privileged to live with the redeemed family in eternity with God. (June, 1963).

They that are whole need not a physician

When Jesus made this statement in Luke’s writings, those that felt to be righteous (the scribes and Pharisees) were grumbling, because Jesus and the disciples were eating with publicans and sinners. Christ did not mean they were whole and without sin, but that was how they felt—self-righteous.

It is yet the same today. The true gospel minister is not putting out soothing balm for those who are not sick of sin. Those who are sick of sin and sorrow, yearn for the truth of the redeeming love of God, the good physician. When one feels lost and undone, a poor, needy sinner, he needs a physician.

The apostle Paul felt whole before the Lord did his wonderful work on him. Before, Paul stood high among the great in the land. He had the letters of authority, so it seemed he could not be hindered. But when the Lord spoke to him, he felt the need of a physician. Not only did he want to know who this was, and what was the matter with him, but he wanted to know what to do. Before he was whole in sin, and didn’t need Christ, as far as he was concerned. After he realized that his body was covered with the sores of sin, for the remainder of his life he longed to be near his Savior, clinging to him, the only one able to heal the sores of sin.

Jacob was another cripple who limped after wrestling with the man in Gen. 32, until the breaking of the day. After that he was no longer Jacob, but Israel, as a representative of all the Lord’s people, showing they had the need of a physician. They cannot walk without the help of God. They cannot fight unless God gives them strength. They cannot walk without stumbling, falling, and bruising themselves in the briars and thickets, but must have the guiding hand of God to guide them through life. Being a cripple, in need of a physician is not a disadvantage to God’s little children. You do not have to face the greatest obstacle of life alone, which is life itself. For our trust is in Jesus, and he has prevailed over death and the grave, giving us the sweet hope of the resurrection.

When I am well and whole in nature, I never want to see a natural physician. I have no need of him. If you might think you can save, or help save, people in eternal heaven by prayer, pleading, or the gospel, try this , which is just the same in nature. The next time your neighbor or loved one gets sick, and has need of a physician, and you are well, go along with the sick one, so the doctor can give you some medicine like your friend, so you can get well of something you don’t have. Of course, if you do this, someone will doubt your sanity, and well they should.

Yet when many preachers issue the call for mourners, they use the scared of hell call instead of calling for those who truly have the longing desire to live with their Savior. The most sickening thing to me is to hear preachers at funerals of good mothers and fathers beat the children and loved ones over the head by telling them how to meet them in heaven. Such preaching does not take into consideration the greatness of the good physician. Such tactics and their results— summertime and weekend religion—remind me of a man getting sick on a cigar, or a stout chew of tobacco. He may be real sick that night, but by morning he is the same as before. The Primitive Baptists don’t want this kind of person for a member, but they want the ones whose heads hang low in humbleness, knowing they don’t deserve the mercies of God, but looking night and day, every day of the week and the year, to the great physician.

In Samuel we find the type of the poor, undeserving sinner today. King David, in wanting to show kindness for Jonathan the son of Saul’s sake, called Mephibosheth to him. Mephibosheth was as those who are lame and sick today. 2 Sam. 9:8, “And he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” However, it was for Jonathan’s sake that Mephibosheth was receiving this kindness. The undeserving sinner should fully realize that what he receives of the Lord’s hand is for Jesus’s sake. The goodness of God permits such a poor, weak mortal as I from time to time, to do as David commanded that Mephibosheth be allowed to do. 2 Sam. 9:11, “As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.” So may we shout and sing praises to the God of glory. (Feb., 1964)

Holy and Reverend is His Name

Contrary to the thoughts of some, this title is not referring to some man who has graduated from a theological school. Nor is it referring to some person who has acquired titles given by some man, who has been set to rule over organizations and institutions called churches by men. In fact, this is not referring to any man, not Moses, not the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Paul, John the Baptist, nor the very best and most honorable minister living today.

Psa. 111:9, “He sent redemption unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his name.”

This scripture is referring to the Lord of Glory. No place in the Bible is there any authorization for this title to be attached to the name of any man. I, myself would deeply fear, even ignorantly, to place myself upon the same level with the God of glory.

Remember, before you throw this off lightly with, “It really doesn’t make any difference,” consider that anyone who really loves the Lord should want to follow the teachings of the Word of God. The word reverend would certainly have to do with respect and honor, because of goodness, power and purity. Can mortal flesh even be called good much less reverend?

There was one perfect man who lived upon earth. A person, asking him a question, addressed him as Good Master. The Son of God answered him this way: Matt. 19:17, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God.” Even a perfect man would not allow himself to be called good, letting us know that as long as we have a body of flesh, we have no right to be called good, and we would certainly not want to call something that is bad, reverend, would we? Could I honestly want to be called something that would denote me to be better than Christ? Are you better than Christ?

I shudder to be called reverend by anyone. I usually do not say anything, because I realize they do not truly understand the meaning of the word. However, I do refrain from calling other people reverend in talking to them, or introducing them to someone else. Calling a person brother in speaking to them or introducing them to someone, is never out of place, from a brother to a brother, in hope of Christ. Reverend is always out of place unless we are speaking of God in heaven.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy, the 3^rd chapter, calls the ministers of the gospel, bishops. Bishops are overseers. Bishops are called Elders. This is the reason Primitive Baptists call their ministers elders. It is authorized by the word of God. For proof, read with me in Titus 1:5-7, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee; if any be found blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.

May I plainly say it is not my business what other men like to be called. It is not my business that other religions call their ministers reverend. I would only like for Primitive Baptists and the people of God, who are truly interested in the truth to be reminded why we call our ministers elders. Certainly every young minister, to fill the qualifications that the Apostle Paul laid down in his writings, must be in all gravity as one old in years who has endured the storms. That is the reason it is a fearful thing for me to think of all that the word elder implies.

The Apostle Peter called himself an elder. 1 Pet. 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being Lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” Let me call our ministers elder. To other ministers, let me just call them brother, to denote if they are what they claim to be, and I am what I hope I am, we will rejoice together on the other side of time in the joys of heaven, because of what the God of heaven has done for us. Holy and Reverend is his name. (June, 1964)

Like the beasts that perish

Ps. 49:12, “Nevertheless man being in honor abideth not; he is like the beasts that perish.”

David was not speaking of the difference or the similarity of the eternity of man and beast, but of the simple assertion that no honor of man, just like no honor of the beast, will be transferred after death into the world beyond. When we understand this, we can better know how to serve and praise our Lord while we live in this world. We understand what it will take to land us safe and sure in heaven’s pure world.

Honor would certainly include anything that dignifies a person. This includes good works, keeping of laws, keeping of commandments, and living righteously. Unto those who feel that eternity with God is purchased or made sure by the honor or glory or good points of man, let us read together Psa. 49:17, “For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.”

This is simple. A person’s glory shall not descend after him into the hereafter. This is not to infer that a good life is not profitable, but that we have no means to redeem our soul, or that of our brother for their redemption is precious. It took the blood of our precious Lord — not our honor — not our glory.

1 Pet. 1:24,25, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Our glory, our honor, is as the beast that perishes. All the glory and honor of all humanity combined cannot redeem a soul from the power of the grave. But there is a power that is able.

Psa. 49:15, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for he shall receive me. Selah.”

But what of the general judgment? If our honor does not reach beyond the grave, surely dishonor does not. This is true as far as the children of God are concerned.

Heb. 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” This is the righteousness of Jesus that clothes us, so as to present us without spot or blemish to God.

It seems here in the Psalm of David that mainly under consideration is that which is considered honor by the wisdom of the world. However, God is not guided by the wisdom of the world. Of those not blessed of God, does it mean there will be no eternal punishment? David was not here dealing with this part, and I certainly hope I have not given you an idea there would be no hereafter and eternal damnation, for in the very place we have the promise of one, we have the other.

John 5:28,29, “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.”

David does not say the sin and iniquities of the unrighteous (all those not blessed – thereby not clothed in the righteousness of Jesus — not cleansed by his blood according to his sovereign grace), will not be a stench in the nostrils of a righteous God. As even the honor of the righteous does not reach beyond the grave, most certainly no honor of the unrighteous shall, because their honor is non-existent in the eyes of a righteous God.

Heb. 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Rev. 10:12, “And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works.”

Here were books other than the Book of Life. Those whose names were written in the Book of Life were judged righteous according to the book (the imputed righteousness of Jesus). Those who were judged from the other books (according to their works) were cast into the lake of fire. We should carefully note here that all those who were judged of their own works written in the books were cast into this lake of fire.

If I am judged according to my own works, heaven I will never see. But I have a sweet hope that my name is written in the Book of Life, because my precious Savior stood in my room and stead, because of his great love. For he knew I would have no honor, which would reach beyond the grave. Whether honor according to obedience to God, or honor in the wisdom of the world, none of it is sufficient to land one poor sinner safely home. (Dec., 1964)

The Lord, our righteousness

Jer. 23:6, “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

As the prophet Jeremiah was speaking these beautiful words of our Savior, we recall that God has always been particular in naming individuals. This may not seem like a good name to those who boast themselves in the multitude of their own riches, or trust in their own wealth, but to the poor and needy sinner this is a wonderful name.

This name would be downgrading news to those clothed in their own righteousness, with enough to spare to help others. But to those poor, naked, destitute sinners, knowing if left to their own works, heaven they will never see, this is a wonderful name. To the Pharisee, even the thought of what this name means would puncture his ego like a pin a balloon. To the humble poor it brings tears of joy and shouts of thanksgiving.

To the fleshly mind this name would be no more than four words without meaning. To the spiritual mind, and the hope and revelation of what this name means, it has meaning, day or night, during joys and sorrows, heat or cold, in youth or olden age, in health and in sickness. This knowledge gives us people in this world, of whom the world is not worthy, a little oasis here and there, where those who know the meaning of this name can meet together and shout that his praise is our blessing, because of this Christ our Lord.

As I take stock of myself, my sinfulness, my weakness, I feel depressed, then through these dark clouds I see the beauty of the Savior, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. It causes me to want to serve the people of God in my little way, whether visiting, speaking to God’s children of the mercies of God, or printing a little church paper. I am glad that my little service is not necessary to clothe anyone in righteousness, but I am glad of the sweet feeling I receive in my heart, of living with a people who trust in Christ Jesus. THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

If this is the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and he is our righteousness, who should we fear? If he is our righteousness, what power or element of time could hinder us from enjoying the everlasting blessings of God? If he is our righteousness is this sufficient? Is it complete? Do we need a surety for Christ? Did he receive this name, because we helped him by accepting him. Can you think of anything more complete or satisfactory than the righteousness of Jesus?

Do we pause to think how thankful we should be? How we can best show his praise? How we can best show his praise? Are we believers in THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS?

This is in his name. He lived up to his name. Heaven will be populated by the saints of God pure, because of Jesus Christ, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jan., 1965)

“And it Ceaseth For Ever”

David in speaking of redemption of the soul of man says that it ceases forever. David is not speaking of an attempt at redemption. Redemption lasts as long as the person redeeming retains his power. This is reason the redemption David is speaking of lasts forever. Should Christ bankrupt, then the redemption of the Lord’s people would end. However, I am glad that our God is all rich, all powerful, and that he endureth forever.

The redemption of the Lord’s people is precious. It was not purchased by corruptible things as silver and gold, not attained by the temporal glory of man, which to day is, and tomorrow is not. Were it so purchased and attained, it would not be a forever redemption. We should ever remember that without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

We see the pattern of this in the keeping of the Passover. We see it clearly as the chief priest entered once each year into the holiest with the blood of the proper animal. However, it was not pleasing to God that such should take away sin, but Jesus said, “a body hast thou prepared me.” “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained redemption for us,” Heb. 9:12. The very best and most pure that man had was required to enter into the holy place once each year, but Jesus entered once and that was eternal redemption.

As David was permitted to see Jesus redeeming his people from their sins, he also saw the need for redemption of the soul of man ceasing forever. Certainly the Bible speaks of Christ coming to redeem our bodies from the grave. But as far as the price of redemption, that was paid in its entirety by Jesus on the cross. He said, “It is finished.” When something ceases, that means it is through. The redemption of God’s people, not only ceased forever, but it is finished. Can you think of anything better than it being finished and staying that way forever?

This condition leaves us to consider our worship of our God. We should be thankful and comforted by this truth. We should spend all our time praising God for his goodness and mercy.

The redemption was paid by the blood of Jesus. Thus offerings for it ended forever. It would be foolish for anyone to attempt something that is finished. David did not mean redemption was non-existent; redemption exists eternally. He just meant offering for the sins of God’s covenant people is over and done. There is no reason for people today to feel that what they do will give them a home in heaven. What a person does, bears the evidence, if it is good works, that God has blessed them, and they are his children, and he is their everlasting, unchangeable God, because of the redeeming blood of Jesus. (April, 1965)

CHOICE

Psa. 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

It has been denied for many generations that there is any such thing as choice. Yet in this scripture we see the power of God in love reaching the poor wretched sinner. God is a God who doesn’t change or lie, and has all power. He reached down in mercy, for we did not deserve it, reached down in our lives, removed an alienated mind and, through his own Son, removed the stains of sin. He did all this for a people whom he had chosen for his own inheritance.

Eph. 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

His choice did not create a condition whereby we are weighed in the balances of our own deeds. I was taught in school, that if the good we did outweighed the bad, we would go to heaven and vice versa. If this were true, we would all be found wanting. God demands nothing short of perfection—a spotless condition. This is the reason we were chosen in his Son—because if heaven we are ever blessed to see, we must be without blame, because our sins were laid on the precious shoulders of Jesus by the choice of God.

The choice of God is good, not bad. Sometimes the Lord’s little children misunderstand choice. God did not make man in sin, but instead he made a perfect man. God did not make man to sin. Man did not sin by the choice of God, but by man’s own choice. God knew man would fall from the perfect condition of his creation, and would violate God’s law and fall under his deserving wrath. Thus, when God treasured grace in his Son to remove the sins of those he chose, this was an undeserving blessing to those he bestowed it upon. There was not one bit of harm done to those not so blessed. All the harm unto the alienated sinner can be laid at the feet of man.

If it were according to a partnership deal between man and Christ, then man would lay up an inheritance that would be by his labors. But David said the Lord hath chosen a people for his own inheritance. What he gives is wholly his. No one has any claim except Jesus has covered them with his own righteousness. What God gives, he gives to those who are spotless and without blame according to the choice of God’s love. These are the ones he chose for his own inheritance, treasured grace in his son, which by his death on the cross forever perfected those he died for, according to God’s choice. These chosen ones are the ones who want to go to heaven. They are the ones whom he predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son.

What kind of choice does man have? If so be he has tasted that the Lord is gracious, thus by God’s choice and manifested love, he can lay aside the things of the flesh, manifest the life that God has given him by walk and actions in life, and enjoy the smiles and approval of God toward his children in obedience. Man when left to himself without the grace of God has always chosen sin, evil, lust, and alienation from God. Man in disobedience to God has also chosen the same low road that the alienated sinner loves. The child of God cannot love it, because God in his love chastises those whom he loves.

God chose a people for his own inheritance. We receive the earnest and foretaste of this inheritance while we live. We receive it in the blessings of the fellowship of God and his saints. However, this is mixed with joys and sorrows. In heaven above, where all is love, there will be no sorrow there. This is the true inheritance which words cannot describe if man could even view the beauty of it all. This will not be the foretaste, but the reality of sinless perfection itself.

I am glad God blessed a people and chose them for his own inheritance. That he said, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people. All the powers of earth and hell combined will never be able to undo, nullify, or remove one of the objects of his love from his choice, redemption, and resurrection. (Aug., 1965)

The Work and Effect of Righteousness

Isa. 32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

As long as there is wrath, wars, depravity, unrighteousness and the works they bring, there is no peace. No wonder man has no hope nor peace with God on man’s own works, because all these and the other things that are corrupt are the life story of man. No wonder that those touched with God’s grace from the time of righteous Abel to the present time have looked with tears of hope and thanksgiving to Jesus for their peace. They have known that their shoulders were not able to bear their own many sins and iniquities.

This being the condition of man, in order that heaven be populated by those he loved with an everlasting love, that they not be banished forever, and justly so, from his presence, Jesus came in their stead, and by his obedience many were made righteous. We hear often the admonition to make your peace with God. Man is incapable of making his eternal peace with God. He does not have the attributes of perfection and righteousness. But, Jesus was given power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father gave him. Isa. 32:1, “Behold a King shall reign in righteousness.” He is our peace with God. He is our righteousness. If a person is not made righteous by Jesus Christ, then he is not righteous. If he is made righteous, then the work of righteousness is peace which never ceases and never needs renewing.

Although you can never make your eternal peace with God, and don’t need to, because Jesus did that for you, you do live in the effects of righteousness, which is quietness and assurance forever. Do you feel the quiet assurance that the blood, righteousness and peace of Jesus is sufficient? Do you see the quietness of his promises to his people, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church? That Jerusalem is a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down, nor one of the stakes thereof ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords be broken. The effect of this righteousness brings the quietness and assurance that as long as the sun which God giveth and the stars and the moon depart not from him, then the seed of Israel shall never cease from being a nation before him Jer. 31:35,36. That if heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then and only then, will he cast off all the seed of Israel for all they have done, Jer. 31:37. That as sure as not a bone of his precious body was broken, not a one of his loved ones shall ever be broken from the embrace of God’s love and justification and surety of heaven after awhile. That God knoweth them that are his, so no one has to make him acquainted with them. That the church is a home and not the stepping stone to heaven, so that those who foolishly miss those precious joys here will not miss the bliss of glory with God. That the gospel is good news that our Father sends is not a vehicle to heaven, so we are assured the little babes, the retarded, the heathen of the lands of the world who can’t, and do not hear the gospel do not miss heaven, because of it. We don’t have to preach a doctrine that it may be too late, if a person does not do thus and so, because Jesus did it (redeemed them all the way to God by his blood) and he has never been too late, nor has he ever failed.

All of this because of the work of righteousness and the effect of it. We see trouble, we see afflictions, but we are still quietly assured by God’s promise that those things will be forbidden in glory. That the joys we receive cannot express nor the mind of man conceive the greatness, the beauty and the joys of living in heaven with God and his family.

These things being true we do not have to preach a religion based and sustained upon the success of scaring little children into the church by telling them they will be sent to hell, if they do not join the church. We hold forth instead the beauty of the smiles of Jesus to those who live and die in his kingdom, his church in the world. We feel that if those of his children, as they view his righteousness, and covering us from all sin is not enough to draw us to the church and encourage us to live a pure and undefiled religion, nothing will. That, after all he has done for us, we should feel ashamed to live out in the world, when he has given us a home, the church, to live in.

This righteousness did not bring us peace with man or with the world, but with God. If I know my heart, I would not exchange the quietness and assurance, that this righteousness our Lord and Savior gave us for all the world nor life itself. Let us see if the good old hymn harmonizes with our experience.

Here in the vineyard of my Lord,

I love to live and labor.

And be obedient to my God,

Until the dying hour.

If it doesn’t harmonize with our experience, may I insist you try going home to your friends, follow your Lord in baptism, and don’t just stop there, but let us live faithful to him and his kingdom all the days of our life. Let us wash the saints feet, and shout his praises amidst a crooked and perverse nation, unashamed with our feet treading happily along the Pathway of truth in honor to God. (Oct., 1965)

“And he gave some pastors”

A pastor is a great asset to the church. He is the gift of God. He has many limitations to his power. This is because he is not the lord and master. Many people have felt that they were completely ruined, because God saw fit to call their pastor from the walks of men, or he was impressed to move on somewhere else. They did not realize God can give them another.

A true pastor is one who takes the oversight of the flock, not because he feels the need to raise his ego, but because of his love for the church of God and his cause in the world. It is a fearful thing to pastor a church. A pastor is a watchman, overseer, and example to the flock. Just one slip, one mistake, and some precious little child has been led from the true pathway by the pastor.

A pastor will not have to campaign for his job. If a person approaches him and asks him if he would serve a certain church if he is called, he will usually basically answer, “I don’t know, I haven’t been called yet.” Thus he recognizes that through the workings of the Spirit of God, both the congregation and the minister will have the same mind. He doesn’t know how he would feel until after he is called. Any God called minister will seriously consider the call of the church, or else reap bitterness in his soul.

The most disgusting thing there is in any church is a minister, who feels like a church is missing the golden opportunity if they fail to call him. That the church will be completely ruined, if they let him go. Sometimes good brethren and sisters will think the congregation will mushroom in growth, and the stream or lake or pool will not hold those that will come to the church, if they can get a certain minister as pastor. They sometimes believe it so strong they will call and the minister will go, even if it means dissatisfaction with almost half of the members. Sometimes there will be a great division because of it.

The members who push so hard, and the minister who wants the church so bad, have usually followed the arrangements of Satan, and not the persuasion of the gentle and convincing Spirit of God. The end result usually is, the members so completely convince themselves that the minister is the only one for them, that they will follow him anywhere he goes, even if he begins preaching false doctrine. The minister will come to feel that those against him are just persecuting him like the enemies of Christ did him.

He (the minister) comes to feel that he is a latter day Apostle Paul, that possibly God has sent him to straighten out the Old Baptists, and he will feel like Satan has overcome everyone else, because they will not follow him. These are usually all good brethren, whom God has touched their heart, who in regeneration together with some God-called minister have gotten together and coveted the oversight of a flock of God. The end result is usually a group of brethren divide, when they should be together shouting the praise of God.

Sometimes good pastors are mauled and crippled before the flock. A true pastor will stand for the laws that God has given the church, regardless of whether the opposition is someone big or not. So many times a member will begin talking to get rid of a pastor. He will say, “we are not growing, we are only standing still, and we need to get another pastor, so we can grow.” Sometimes this is true and the pastor should move on, and then oftentimes the trouble is not the pastor, but the one who wants to get rid of the pastor, who is causing the coldness in the church. If this is true, then the church will not grow under any pastor until the true cause of the coldness has been removed.

I don’t know whether I am capable of being a pastor or not. Whether I fill the commandment of God or not. “Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away,” 1 Pet. 5:2-4.

This much I hope I do know, as long as I live, as long as God gives me strength, when the church calls and I feel impressed to heed their call, I will go, not with constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. That I will use the gift and the talents that God has given me, night or day, whenever I am called upon. That each time before calling time I will admonish the church to go to the Lord in prayer, that he will impress them with the overseer of the flock that God sends them. When that person is someone else, I will rejoice with the church, that they were able to see it. That I had rather death itself would overtake me, than to cause trouble among sober brethren.

I feel that everyone who does otherwise will fall on his own sword. As David would not take the life of Saul, because he was the anointed of God, so no one is to take the life of one who covets to oversee a church of the Lord, for he will fall on his own sword. He will become a vagabond to the household of faith, and the end thereof will be bitterness and gnashing. (Nov., 1965)

GOD’S ELECT

Rom. 8:33 “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

This statement, found in the Roman letter, lets us know there is not a power in the world that can lay a charge to God’s elect. Those whom he has loved with an everlasting love, and chosen in him (Eph. 1:4) cannot stand in danger of eternal hell. They are protected in the hands of Jesus.

I have been charged a few times, or dunned, for a debt that had already been paid. Some people are preaching a doctrine today that tells the Lord’s little children that they must pay a debt or be eternally banished into eternal hell. Yet that debt was paid by Jesus on the cross. You and I have never had the payment price that was necessary. It was not silver or gold or precious stones, for nothing short of the blood of Jesus could take care of our depraved condition.

When Jesus gave up the ghost on the cross, stating, “It is finished,” he was standing in our room and place instead. Is there one today who claims to be a believer in Christ that could truthfully say that this blood could not do the job it was intended by the purpose of God to do? He came to save his people as stated in Matthew by the angel. He testified himself that he would lose nothing, but raise it up at the last day. Times and seasons will come and go; life and death will come and go; but no power shall be able to charge anything against God’s elect.

Did I hear someone say that if we do not get preachers to foreign and heathen lands that those people will be banished to eternal hell? Fear not, loved one, because all those the precious blood of Jesus was shed for will strike hands with the redeemed of God on the banks of sweet deliverance. Did I hear someone say there was an age of accountability? From the time one is told by the Holy Spirit of the love of Christ, they are accountable for their peace and joy in the lord, for they cannot lose their life, which is in Jesus. Did I hear someone say you must hear the gospel, believe the gospel, accept the gospel, or be banished to eternal hell?

From one who has lost some precious little children, I am glad this is not true. This would give no hope to those who lose little ones to the hand of death. I tried to talk over a little child, who never saw the light of day last week. I am glad they are not charged to hear, believe and accept the gospel. Because of the blood of Jesus their little tongues will be tuned to sing the everlasting praise of God. Are we glad that no one can lay any charge to God’s elect? I am glad he has said, “They shall all know me, from the least to the greatest.”

Those whom God justified cannot be hindered by and charges leveled at them from living with God in glory. The debt was paid in full. God has said that their sins and iniquities will I remember no more forever. That is long enough. Is there anyone who can make a charge stick, when we have this kind of paid in full receipt? I am glad your Savior, and I trust mine, said, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand,” John 10:29.

Finally, my precious ones, I see the shining face of Jesus, who has done so much for us, everything in fact, beckoning his little children to follow him in obedience, for his yoke is easy and the burden is light, and we shall find rest to our soul. He has granted us the precious privilege of rejoicing in his power, openly and unashamed in the midst of the congregation of his people in the church of the living God. Let each of us answer in our own mind this question: are we taking advantage of these blessings of his by our obedience, or are we lazy and inconsiderate of all he has done for us. (March 1966)

Righteousness and Confession

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The importance of the seat of feeling in man, the heart, and the confessing is borne out in this statement to the Roman brethren. We want to comment that the believing of something does not bring it to pass, but we believe, because we have the evidence that an event or happening has come to pass. “Faith is the evidence of things not seen.”

To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is a righteous act. This act is not of the nature of man, so it cannot be accredited to him, but to the Lord.

Prov. 16:1, “The preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

When a person’s heart believes unto righteousness, it is because the Lord is there. Because the Lord has prepared the heart. Only those who are embraced in God’s everlasting love, whom Christ died for, and whom the Holy Spirit makes their Savior known to them, can with the heart believe unto righteousness. This is all of those who want to live in glory with God. All of those who want to be carried to heaven. As with Abraham, those who believe in God, it is accounted unto them for righteousness.

Many of the Lord’s children may be deceived into feeling that they may have something to do with being righteous. This is not the feeling of the heart, but the error that is brought about by the false teaching of the doctrines of men. As denoted in the third verse of the tenth chapter of Romans, the only way the people of Israel (children of God) can believe in their own righteousness is to be ignorant of God’s righteousness.

Oh, how sweet it is to look to, view, trust in, hope in, rejoice in, and be satisfied with the righteousness of the Lord. That unmovable, everlasting sufficient righteousness of our Lord.

So there should be no question that God is due all the praise for righteousness in the hearts of his people. In counting that belief for righteousness, God is merely recognizing his own word, and his presence in that heart. Every desire and design of a heart in which God dwells (all his children) is righteous.

John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Lest the Lord’s children might become fat and lazy, because of the continual blessings and mercy of God, we should remember that wheresoever the treasure is, there will the heart be also. If we fail to walk in godly pathways, we are not showing much evidence that God is in our heart.

Since the Lord prepares the heart, and since with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, the home in heaven is not jeopardized simply, because some of his children act ugly and stubborn and shamefully fail to confess the Lord while they live. We should confess the Lord, because he has been so good to place his love in our hearts. We do not confess it to make it so (as the doctrines of men tell people to do), but we confess it, because it is already in the heart.

So as we have something in our heart which we feel and which is righteous, we have something to tell, something to confess with our mouth. Do not we confess that the Lord is our salvation? In so doing we receive a salvation that we could not receive, if we did not confess. Something we feel, something to confess, and something to do. When we confess with our mouth the salvation of the Lord, there is no harmony unless we walk in confession’s godly pathway. We should walk down the obedience pathway in harmony with the commandments of God. Otherwise, we have become as the sound of brass, or a tinkling cymbal. If the God of righteousness lives in our hearts, we should not wait until tomorrow to confess, for we can never call back today, and the joys we might have had. We cannot undo the past. But we can look unto the future; go home to our friends (the church) and confess how great things the Lord has done for us. After that, there is a beautiful path to walk, letting our light so shine, that others seeing our good works, might glorify God who is in heaven. (Sept., 1966)

REMISSION

Heb. 10:17,18, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

For a person to believe that we have something to do with our eternal salvation, he must believe that Christ did not remit our sins as he sets out in the Hebrew letter, for he clearly states in the inspired writing of the Apostle Paul that where remission of the sins and iniquities of his people are, there is no more offering for sin. This would certainly include the frail works of man in his life and actions upon this earth. If our righteousness was something more than filthy rags, this would even then exclude us from making an offering, or a partial offering, in order to remit sins. This scripture will leave out everything that man is supposed by the doctrines of men to be capable of doing, such as accepting the Lord, believing on his name, being baptized, living faithful to the end, getting the Holy Ghost, and so forth.

I would hate to think that my works, and the offering of my little service, would improve upon the complete washing of our sins, which our Savior does. We read that without the shedding of blood there is no remission. I certainly do not think there is anything I could do that would improve my lot with my Lord and my God any more than being washed in the righteous blood of the Son of God, do you?

Those whose sins are remitted will not become unremitted. That is why the salvation of those who were given by the Father to the Son is so sure. However, the process or application of his blood to remitting our sins is certainly in the hands of God, and he paid the full price sufficient to remit the last sin that the last heir of promise that ever lives shall ever commit. That is the kind of storehouse that God is.

He sat down at the right hand of God. This means he finished the job he came to do, and that was to save his people from their sins. I don’t think my Lord and my Savior will remove himself from that exalted seat on high, just because some poor, puny man, versed in the doctrines of men, thinks there is something left for his children to do in order to live with God in glory. Our Savior knows he paid the price, that he remits our sins to be remembered against us no more forever. In spite of the errors and ignorance of men, their disbelief in the righteousness of God, his ability to redeem, to remit, some sweet day all the redeemed family of God, with their sins remitted will sing the praise of God in glory.

To those who cannot understand the beauty of such a wonderful God, I extend to you my love, my compassion, and my prayers, knowing that regardless of whether you believe it or not, nevertheless, without our assistance, our sins are remitted by this Savior, and we’ll sing togther and understand it better by and by. (Sept., 1966)

BAPTISM

1 Pet. 3:20,21, “Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

I do not think I have ever seen so much dissatisfaction among the Lord’s children as there is today. Every day, practically, some friend of mine begins trying to tell me how much of the world is getting into his particular church, and how dissatisfied he is with it. If he knows some things the old Primitive Baptists teach, he will usually get around to telling me he believes practically what we do. He usually winds up by telling me he wished we took letters from other orders of people, for he is satisfied with his baptism.

My answer is, if the world has gotten in so as to bring dissatisfaction, it is a form of spiritual death. Like the marriage ceremony is to a marriage, baptism is the only way to enter into the rights as a member of the church of God. You have no right to partake of the sacraments of marriage until the ceremony has been carried out. You do not have the right to live in the church until the ceremony showing forth that you believe that the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord is sufficient to take away your sins. That is baptism, showing the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior.

If our husband or wife was to die, and we decided to remarry, not a one of us would be willing to begin living with another under the same ceremony that we entered into in marriage with our first marriage partner. If our church life dies, and it must be dead, or we would not be seeking a new church home, just as in marriage, we cannot enter into a church under the ceremony that was used before. (Jan., 1967)

Christ offered himself to the Father;

not to man

Eph. 5:2, “And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”

The above language leaves no room to think that Christ offered himself to sinners. This has never been the case. He hath given himself for us.

Notice the offering and sacrifice was made to God. Since the offering was not made to us, can we either accept or reject the offering Christ made? Our answer must surely be certainly not. Christ made the offering to God. It could never be to the sinner. The fact of Jesus giving himself for us, and God’s gifts of life and a pure heart are neither accepted or rejected by man, because they were not offered, but were given. These kind of gifts are like the following: You neither accepted or rejected natural life, but you received it. I neither accepted or rejected my legs, arms, eyes, ears, or the breath I breathe, but I received them. I was given the measles, whooping cough, chicken pox and many others. I neither accepted or rejected them, but I received them. God’s gifts of love and life are like this. God gave them, and they received them without either accepting them or having the opportunity to reject them.

Christ made the offering to God. Had Christ been imperfect, God could not have accepted him for us, an offering and sacrifice. God demanded perfection, not something polluted as we are, or our works weighed on balances to judge the good and bad. We see the evidence that God accepted the offering of Christ in Rom. 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” The fact that God raised him from the grave is the evidence the offering was accepted of God for our justification.

The effect of this acceptance of the offering of Christ to God in its application to us is found in Heb. 10:14, “For by one offering (himself) he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”

Since the offering was accepted, we instead of being separated from God, being without hope and without God, are a sweet smelling savor to God. He looks upon us as sons. He looks upon us in the tenderness of his mercy rather than his wrath. Being a sweet smelling savor to God, we are the beneficiary of his will, and of heaven by inheritance. We have the benefits of his militant kingdom, (the church) in obedience. We are not separated from God, but have access to him through the mediator, to pray, to serve God, to know more about him, to rejoice to hope in him, and are chastened as sons.

The sweet smelling savor means, God delights in us. We are considered as quality. We are pure in heart. We are righteous. Our sins and our iniquities are forgiven. All this is because of Christ’s offering and sacrifice to God for us, and accepted of God. We are washed in Jesus’s blood. Therefore God is satisfied. Jesus is glorified. The sinner is purified in heart, and some glad day in the reality of heaven in whole. Therefore, heaven shall be populated by those Christ gave himself for, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. (Dec. 1976)

A TIME TO DIE?

Eccl. 7:17, “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

I often hear this comment, “I am this much like a Primitive Baptist; I believe we will all die, when our time comes, and not before.” The Bible does not teach that, and I have never myself heard a Primitive Baptist minister advocate it.

God predestinated his people to be conformed to the image of his Son. He did not predestinate our natural death. Had he done so, he would have thereby become the author of sin, for sin is what brings death. Notice the language of the above scripture. If there was a time fixed by the unalterable hand of God, could you possibly die before that time? Certainly not. There are things we can do that will shorten our lives. There are things we can leave undone that will do the same.

An automobile might come off the assembly line with every part as perfect as possible. With this sort of perfection, let us say it will last for 100,000 miles. However, if I buy the car and fail to change the oil properly, fail to grease it, drive too fast, drive too slow, or commit numerous other life shortening acts, it will not last for 100,000 miles. It will wear out before its time.

We are given a body, the organs of which operate at such efficiency, that no machine or parts thereof can duplicate it. This is a testimony to God’s wisdom, that such a frail creature as ours has been known to live so many years. We should, and usually do, avoid some of the perils that would take our life. When we get sick, we get a doctor. We run from a falling tree, build storm shelters, all in testimony that we believe an untimely death, or death before our time could befall us. We cannot say that every person born into the world should or would live 100 years, even if the very best of care is taken. Our body might be abnormal at birth. If this be so, then the time that could be expected for us to live would not be as long as others.

The above teaches that the time to die spoken of is the maximum time our house of clay would exist under becoming circumstances. Of course, there are circumstances over which we as individuals exercise no immediate control. Wars, accidents, and diseases would be so classified. We may or may not, overeat, drink improperly, or mistreat our body by overwork or lack of exercise. The Lord’s children have mental anguish and remorse in doing wickedly. The wicked in heart would have the fear of their evil deeds being brought to light, and not remorse for doing them. A person could also take his own life by premeditated suicide.

I hope the fact is clear that circumstances of life, both in our control and not under our immediate control, govern our passing from life. All these are wickedness, foolishness, and sin. The average person has knowledge of some common things that cause death and wisdom to avoid them. If our every course and death were fixed by God’s unalterable hand, we would not have this need of knowledge or wisdom.

I rejoice that whether we die young or old, under whatever circumstances, God receives our spirit, and our bodies rest unseparated from his love, and in his hand never removed, to await that glad morning when all of his redeemed shall be resurrected in his likeness, to rejoice evermore. (April, 1968)

The Son quickeneth whom he will

John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

As the Father does, even so the Son. He quickeneth whom he will. Whose will is it? Would it not always be the one that does the quickening? How could that which is dead have a will?

This teaches the sovereignty of the power of God. He is neither limited nor aided by the things that man is either capable or incapable of doing. In this we see God is not limited by the natural will of man. God by his quickening Spirit changes the will of man from natural to spiritual. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure,” Phil. 2:13, “It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God who showeth mercy.

Can a person resist this quickening Spirit of God? Can that which is dead resist life? If you or I, the least or the largest sinner, could resist this quickening, he would not be quickening whom he will.

I am glad it is not the gospel that does the quickening. There are those who live in lands that have never heard the gospel. Little babies that are born dead, or die in infancy, do not hear the gospel. For many of the same reasons, if this quickening power came through the church, or our parents, it would never reach these cases.

Christ was letting those that wanted to bridle his power know, that they could not hinder him from quickening those whom it was his will to quicken. He has not changed. Heaven will be populated by those it is his will to quicken, to make alive. There will be no vacancy in Heaven. All the redeemed will be there. (May, 1968)

They that are whole

Luke 5:31,32, “And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

How awful is the sight, when we see ourselves as the vilest of sinners. Certainly, we are very prone to compare ourselves, the things we do, and do not do, with others. But to get to the truth of the matter, when we view ourselves under the measuring rod, with the light of God’s shining light, we wonder if there is another being more sin prone.

“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.” “Tis seldom I can ever see myself as I would wish to be.” “My nature is so prone to sin, I fear that I’m not born again.”

How much easier we are to get along with, when we see our many faults. We do not lose our tempers at other’s faults. We do not want to gossip and repeat bad things others have done. We are easier to get along with, in our home, community, and church. We will attend church every opportunity we possibly can, looking for a little more evidence that we are an heir of God. We will be more mindful of the rule, “As you would that others do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” This will remind us to visit the sick and aged, speak encouraging words to the young, avoid gossip, study our Bible and go often to the Lord in prayer, for we feel our needs.

Such an anguish at sin that would stir one to say as the apostle Paul, “Oh, miserable wretch that I am.” It also keeps a person in the proper attitude to rejoice that Christ came to those that are sick. The poor publican left feeling justified by this good physician, even though he could not so much as lift his eyes toward heaven. With this feeling, he could have no doubt that any justification he received was from the healing grace of the good physician.

The Pharisee, seeing no evidence of any sickness within or about him, felt no need of the healing power of the physician. Even today, those who pride themselves in the feeling of being without sin, or of being better than those around them, show no evidence that they are the sick whom the Savior came to save.

We cannot admit that we are those whom the Savior came to save and to call, unless we also admit the fact that we are, within our own merits, vile sinners. The apostle said, “There is none righteous, no not one.” A person cannot feel righteous in his own works with God’s light shining around about him. He can clearly see the sin and sickness. Then we feel the need of the physician, not only in eternal justification, but also every day of our life. We have a desire to heed the admonitions and commandments to live a life of vitality among the saints. We feel his service is a reasonable service. We hate that which is evil, more especially if it is our own doing. We find no peace in our own merits. The peace we know, is in the knowledge and revelation that Christ is our peace. We wouldn’t exchange this peace for all the world.

I am often made to wonder with the poet, “Oh, is there anyone like me?” The answer keeps coming, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Then I can sing this song with the true meaning, “Poor, weak, and worthless though I am, I have a rich almighty friend. Jesus the Savior is his name. He freely saves and without end.”

Dear people, let me just live at your feet. Let me just be a doorkeeper, the very least and insignificant. Just let me live and die among you. For I ask you to answer me, what greater blessing is there here? (June, 1968)

JUSTIFIED — SAVED

Rom. 5:9, “Much more then, being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

This scripture brings our thoughts to the surety of the continuation of God’s love toward his people in the past, now and forever. In Rom. 5:8, we read thusly, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In another place we are shown to have been enemies to God. In Rom. 5:10, we are told that there was enmity between us and God. In other places our condition was described as being dead (Eph. 2:1). So if there had been any time that God would have cast the objects of his eternal love, purpose, and plan aside, it would have surely been when we were sinners throughout, enemies, hating God and dead in trespasses and in sin. Yet God loved us in this condition. Not only did he love us, he died for us, when we were in this condition (Eph. 2:4,5).

“Being now justified by his blood.” When Jesus shed his blood that we be justified before the righteous God, this changed our condition and rights altogether. The justification was by his blood. There is no reference of anything being used in conjunction with his blood. Not silver and gold. Not the preaching of the gospel, nor obedience on our part.

Justified! Are there differing levels of being justified? Not at all. We were not partly justified and left to finish the job. But we were fully, totally, and completely justified by his own precious blood.

Being justified by Jesus’s pure and holy blood, we are precious in the sight of God. The salvation from the wrath of God is as sure as the purity of our Savior’s blood. Therefore, there is no question about being saved from wrath. Who would be so bold as to affirm that God would pour out his wrath upon those justified by the pure blood of Jesus? Who would say that some of these justified by holy blood would live in eternal woe and misery?

Such would be the case, if it is as many claim, that Jesus died for us, but to reach heaven we’ve got to hear the gospel, accept, and some even affirming we must be baptized in water to be eternally saved.

If the blood of Christ is shed for a person and he never hears the gospel, what is his condition? He is justified by Jesus’s blood. The same would be true if in any case or condition that the teaching of man might bring forth. Nothing can hinder those that Christ died for from living with him in glory.

If we are justified, there is not anything against us. Would it not be inconceivable folly to suggest that God would leave those that he loves, justified by the blood of his son, being without spot or blemish, to suffer his eternal wrath? God will not banish the just from his everlasting presence. Just by the blood of his Son. Come, let us praise him together for all his wondrous mercy. (July, 1968)

He that believeth and is baptized

Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.”

Christ here taught a basic truth concerning salvation. Let us consider what kind of salvation is under consideration. We consider the phrase, “He that believeth.” 1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Therefore, we see that all those who believe are already the sons of God. The apostle Paul states in Rom 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.”

Christ is talking about baptizing children of God. Those who are heirs to his inheritance. Then baptizing them does not make them children as some would claim. If they wish to be baptized, it is evidence of eternal spiritual life within them crying out and manifesting itself.

What kind of salvation then is Christ talking about? It is the same salvation spoken of by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:40, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation.” We should not live a life of loose tongue, morals and footsteps, but in obedience to the commands of God, not to become sons, but because we are sons. The world is not looking to Christ, depending on him, desiring him, or living in obedience to him. We save ourselves by being the opposite, by conforming our lives as God commands.

This baptism that the minister is commanded to administer saves by water, just like the eight were saved in the ark.

1 Pet. 3:20,21, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” If this ark landed in eternal heaven, then would baptism land or assist in landing you there. The ark saved them from the flood and the untoward generation.

The ark of the new birth which gives us eternal spiritual life is a baptism of the spirit. This baptism of the spirit must come before we have the desire or the right to be baptized in the name of Christ. This baptism of the spirit causes a person to want the baptism of the believer into the church in time. 1 Cor. 12:13, “For by one spirit are ye all baptized into one body….” This baptism into Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit, and not of the church or the minister. For further evidence, let us look to 1 Cor. 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus….” Therefore the minister cannot administer this baptism into Christ. We are in Christ (altogether and totally) of God. (July, 1969)

Absolutism masquerades

as sound doctrine

I do not know as I ever heard anyone admit to being an absoluter. The real danger of absolutism is that many sweet and wonderful brethren do not recognize it. Many unknowingly use statements so close to it, that it sometimes leaves the wrong impression about the responsibility of God’s people.

One such statement is made to those on the outside of the church. “When you get to where you just can’t stay outside any longer, then join the church.” Yet, you and I know that God is too perfect to place a desire in one’s heart to follow him, and then send ministers to tell him to keep on sinning by staying out of the church just as long as he can! Wouldn’t you say it is sin to resist the desire to go home to the church? There have been some able ministers and strong churches among those who advocate that our deeds are predestinated of God. Yet the life span of most such churches is about 50 years. Brethren, think on these things.

The predestination spoken of in the Bible in the 8^th chapter of Romans, and the first chapter of Ephesians, deals with God’s work in the conforming of his people to the image of his Son. Let all fear to add to these scriptures. God foreknowing something does not cause it. God predestinating something is causative.

The following statements teach absolutism. “Thank thee, Lord, for this food that thou hast caused to be prepared for us.” “If you are supposed to join the church, you will.” “If a man is called to preach, he is going to preach.”

At the same time, we realize that all we do is by God’s grace. Yet, I read where the apostle Paul was instructing some people, that the grace of God would not be shed on them in vain. This is the grace that gives his children enabling ability to be obedient to the commands and examples of Christ.

Don’t expect to find out if a man is an absoluter by asking him. He may be deceived in the matter. The only way you can find out is to listen to his preaching. A man who claims he has committed adultery, got drunk, stolen, and lied, all to try to keep from joining the church or preaching, inferring that this was caused because God called him, is simply deceiving himself. Such deeds are simply the following of his own carnal nature. God did not cause it. You might say, “Well I do not believe in a person doing all that.” If you do not, then don’t tell him to stay out of the church as long as he can.

Each of the above doctrines are harmful to God’s people, and cast reflection on the perfect God. I have no apology for the desire by the grace of God to resist the doctrine of absolute predestination with the same determination as I resist the error of the doctrine of man’s works to gain eternal salvation. (Sept., 1969)

WILLS

Heb. 9:16, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

If God’s children, who desire to know the truth, would study about testaments or wills, they would not be confused about the family of God, and the surety of their inheritance. As is recorded in Heb. 9:17, a testament is not in force as long as the testator liveth. There must be the death of the testator.

Many times, people will write a will, and come into the Probate Office here in Cullman and tell me, “I want to record my will.” I always explain that we cannot record their will, for they might want to change their will later, which they could do as long as they live. However, after they die, a will cannot be changed. The will or testament of God is unchangeable. Our Savior died. The will is in complete effect as far as the heirs are concerned. No one can be added to the will as an heir, nor can anyone be removed as an heir.

Since the will is in force, the preaching of the gospel, the righteous works of God’s children, or all good combined, cannot add one to the will, so that they might obtain an inheritance. All the righteous works combined are intended to make this a better, happier place for God’s living children. Since the will is in effect, there is not enough evil combined in all the world to deny on heir his inheritance in Heaven above. If you deny this, then you would advocate that if you write a will and leave everything to your children, that someone else would have the power to inherit from your estate by applying after you had died. You wouldn’t have that, nor would any lawyer in this country try to claim such an absurd thing. Yet, untold numbers of intelligent children of God advocate such reasoning in their religion.

If you could show that one heir of promise, just one that the Lord loved, and it was his will to save from their sins, will ever be removed from this testament which is in effect, I will show you how that none of those Christ loved will ever live with him. A horrible thought, isn’t it? Yet, this is what such a doctrine as one of them being lost, would advocate. Recently a man brought a will, that had one paragraph cut out. This made the entire will null and void. But do not fear, this is not God’s way. There will not be one eternally lost.

John 6:30, “And this is the Fathers will, which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.”

The next time you hear someone talking about saving souls in heaven, or someone gets scared that someone is going to be eternally lost, because of what they do, just pause and ask yourself, can a will be changed after the testator dies? You do believe the Savior died for your sins, don’t you? (May, 1970)

THE END