News And Views
Notes
George H. Marshall, 1302 Pemberton Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana, reports that there is a conservative church meeting there in that city. The congregation started in March, 1961; and Marshall moved there to preach in July of that year. Attendance averages between 45 and 50. They meet at 2321 North Wells Street. The church is self-supporting. He reports that two were baptized there in February ....W. C. Hinton, Jr., 2622 Snapfinger Road, Decatur, Georgia, is in the process of trying to raise his support to go to Japan to preach the gospel. He plans to work in the vicinity of Osaka, where the Bob Nichols family has been for several years. The Nichols are now in the States visiting, and the Hinton's and Nichols are planning to go to Japan together. The Hinton's have their travel fund assured; but they have not yet completely secured their monthly support. They plan to stay in Japan for four years. Hinton is sound in the faith and is deserving of support in this effort. He and Nichols should make a good team, and they will work to establish churches after the NT order. Here is an opportunity for us to demonstrate or show our "faith by our works." When and where there are able and sound men who are ready and willing to go into work such as this, we certainly need to rise to the occasion and supply the funds necessary. We can do it — if we only would do so. Let me urge that you present this matter where you worship and see what can be done in the way of support — whether much or little. Let us get behind Hinton and Nichols and help them preach the gospel in this great country. More than likely you will be seeing reports from both men in the GG, and I urge you to read them.... QUOTATION from the Christian Herald, Russell Street church in Nashville, Tennessee: "We have a letter from Brother Paul Hunton thanking the church for their contribution to the work of the Gospel Press. The contribution given by this congregation was $116.00 in cash and $246.00 in total yearly purposes."....The Gospel Press is soon to have an ad in the LIFE magazine under the eye-catching title of "Will God Save America?" The cost of putting this one ad — dealing with this sensational question — in this magazine will be $7,700.00! That is quite a sum for such a little space and for the distribution of something of such quality.... By now nearly everyone has seen the advertising on the ambitious plans of the Manhattan church in New York City. They are going right on with their million dollar building program; and they intend to raise the necessary money from their begging campaign among the churches. It is interesting to note, however, that they plan to build a 16-story "church-apartment building." They plan to SELL the upper 12 stories of apartments. They tell us that the "sale of the apartments will provide more than half of the needed funds." If this is not the church in business, I would like to know just what else they would have to do in order to go into business I If they have the scriptural right to erect 12-stories of apartments on top of their church building and SELL them to help raise the needed funds, then why could they not build a 12-story apartment building across town in order to do the same thing? Why not build any other kind of building? Why not open up a first-class real estate business in the name of the church? Well, this is the direction that churches are headed — into any and every kind of business activity that they can swing. This kind of practice is bound to be accepted by most of the churches since it has the full support of the Gospel Advocate and its editor. When they approve some teaching or practice then that settles it as far as the liberal churches are concerned.
Question And Answer
Here is a question that is often asked by many people. Perhaps you have wondered about it. Maybe the answer given will not settle it for all who are interested, but I give the answer here for whatever benefit it may be. Here is the question: "What is the bondage mentioned in 1 Cor. 7:15? If this means legal marriage, how would we contrast this verse with Matt. 19:9?"
"The verse: 'Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart; the brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace." If a person did not already have his mind made up, he would have no trouble in understanding this verse. It can refer to nothing else than the marriage bonds, or vows. If either husband or wife becomes a Christian and the other is so bitter against Christianity as to refuse to live with the believer, the believer is not under bondage in such cases — is completely released from the marriage vows, and is as if no marriage had ever taken place. If this be not so, the believer is still under bondage. But does that contradict Matt. 19:9? IT DOES NOT, ANY MORE THAN Matt. 19:9 CONTRADICTS GOD'S ORIGINAL MARRIAGE LAW.
"The first and permanent marriage law is found in Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:24. This law made no provision for divorce — not even for separation. But the authority that makes a law can abolish it, or he can amend it, as circumstances or occasions demand. Notice carefully what led up to the things Jesus said in the verse in question: 'And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God bath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses for the hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it bath not been so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.' It will appear plain from what Jesus says that the original marriage law made no provision for any separation for any cause; yet the law of Moses suffered a man to put away his wife, but commanded him to give her a bill of divorcement when he did so. That bill of divorcement was required when a separation took place. (Duet. 24:1) Because God added this amendment to his own marriage law, will someone accuse him of contradicting his own marriage law? And when Jesus gave fornication as grounds for divorce and remarriage, will someone accuse him of contradicting God's marriage laws? And when the inspired apostle Paul gave another cause for the complete annulment of the marriage vows, he did not contradict the original marriage laws nor what Jesus said. An amendment, or a limitation, or an extension of a law does not contradict that law. Therefore, 'if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases.' If the believer, in such cases, is not entirely free from the marriage vows, he is still under bondage."
Properly Clothed
Columbus, Ohio (AP) — You have to be "properly clothed" to get a marriage license here.
Probate Judge Roscoe R. Walcutt, pointing out that "marriage is a serious undertaking," issued this notice to prospective brides and grooms applying for licenses to marry:
"We do not look with favor on shorts, pedal-pushers, bermuda shorts and the like, and appearance in such attire by either men or women will lead to the refusal to accept the application until the parties appear properly clothed." — THE TEXAS PARENT-TEACHER
What Is The Peace Corps?
The President of our country has begun what is referred to as the "Peace Corps," and our young people are being urged to get into it. What is it really? It is an organization through which young people are urged to render service to people of other lands. It is headed by Sargent Shriver, Jr., who is a Roman Catholic, related to the President's family. Listen to an article taken from Church and State which is a quotation from Ave Maria, July 16, 1961, (Roman Catholic Publication).
"For some time we have urged qualified readers to consider the possibility of devoting some part of their life to the work of Christ as lay missionaries. Now with the advent of the Peace Corps, there is an additional opportunity.... to serve both God and country as a dedicated worker in foreign fields."
"Especially urgent....is the need for Catholic teachers to help fill 300 teaching assignments in the Philippine Islands as Peace Corps volunteers."
"Those who wish to volunteer for this work or other Peace Corps post should apply to the Peace Corps Desk, National Catholic Welfare Conference, 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W., Washington 5, D. C."
I wonder, really, if we Americans are ready, not only to give the Roman Catholic Church money to finance their private schools but also ready to give them, through the Peace Corps, a pre-paid National Missionary Society through which they can spread their doctrine?
It is indeed, later than we think!!
— M. T. Bishop, via The Admonisher
Purgatory Probe
(Editor's Note: The following article is taken from THE ADMONISHER, edited by Arthur W. Atkinson, and published by the church in San Bernardino, California. It is most unusual and deals with a matter that could prove to be very interesting. I hope that the case is not "silenced" and that the brethren out that way will give all of us the benefit of any additional information concerning the case. — CAH)
Sooner or later it was bound to happen, and in this extremely scientific and skeptical age the wonder is that it didn't occur before. With millions questioning the existence of the traditional heaven and hell it was but natural that someday someone would assail the doctrine of purgatory. But nobody dreamed it would come about in the form of a dramatic attack by a famous ex-Catholic lawyer in contesting a will in San Francisco's Superior Court.
From a report entitled "Fantastic Suit" in the San Francisco Chronicle of October 26, 1961, it appears that the late David F. Supple, an elderly bachelor', left most of his $200,000 estate to Catholic schools and charities, excluding his grandnephew, John C. Smith, from any benefits under his will. Now famous lawyer Vincent Hallinan is contesting the will on the basis that David Supple "was persuaded and induced to so believe the teachings of the Church that he.... entertained a constant and morbid fear that, upon his death, his soul might be consigned to Hell — or that it would not attain Heaven except after a long and painful stay in Purgatory.
Supple's beliefs, the suit charges, were predicated "upon the statements and misrepresentations" of Catholic officials which were "calculated and intended....to procure the execution of said will. There is no such thing as 'soul' in the sense set forth....Therefore, the bestowal of gifts upon the Church cannot and does not procure for (the individual) any merit or standing which will ensure the immediate or ultimate entry of the fictitious soul into a fictitious Heaven, nor the release of any... person from the equally fictitious Purgatory."
This case will be something to hear in court, particularly the arguments of church-sponsored attorneys who no doubt will try to prove that Purgatory actually exists.
Should Attorney Hallinan win his case, it will certainly mark a turning point in the history of the church. It could even lead to its bankruptcy. For if it were once established that money received by the church as a result of threatening people with a fictitious purgatory is illegal, innumerable suits might be started to recover funds obtained by false pretenses in years and centuries past.
Whichever way the case goes, it is all to the good that the bright light of truth should now be directed upon this ancient and widely taught tradition. It is high time that purgatory should be probed, and we trust it will be done thoroughly. — Selected, via The Admonisher, San Bernardino, California
Would They Make Him A God?
"The Philippine Bible College of the Church of Christ on Rimando Road will not be the least of schools in the city hereafter, for one, on the heights of delirious fame, has designed to favor her with his personal call. And on the supreme mission of all, for Christ."
Now, who do you suppose has paid a visit to PBC? Peter or Paul or the president of the U.S.? Who has reached such "HEIGHTS OF DELIRIOUS FAME?" Who — but "Pat Boone, a teenagers craze in this country, and loved popular singer, was in Baguio for a fleeting two hours. He flew into the city for a visit.
"Yes for a visit. Not to any big institution. Not to a cheering multitude. But to an obscure and small school. Yes for God. For Jesus, oh, how sweet the name?"
You can feel sorry for Pat. Some of these silly people do really want to make him a god! — Wright Randolph