Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 6
April 7, 1955
NUMBER 47, PAGE 12b

Is It True What They Say?

Charles Hodge, Ennis, Texas

It is an age old axiom that the guilty, indifferent, and satisfied always accuse the people of God of the sins they, in reality, are committing. The wicked man Ahab accused Elijah of troubling Israel. A century ago the digressives accused Christians of not believing in saving souls when they opposed missionary societies. Today, the Christian faction and sectarianism accuse the church of not believing in and loving music because we condemn their human innovations. Recently the writer was talking with a close friend. In good faith the question concerning the scriptural right of existence for certain orphan homes was brought forward. The writer was accused of not loving orphans, of being hard-hearted, of being a Pharisee — one trying to shun responsibility by crawling through loop holes. The age old question must be answered, "Is it true what they say?"

Was it true that Elijah was the cause of the sins of Israel? Were the Christians of a century back unappreciative of music when they insisted upon the Lord's way — the vocal way which the consensus of the musical world attest is the most beautiful, the highest type, and the best. Is it true that people today are cold-hearted because they demand an investigation of practices contrary to the New Testament? As the guilty parties of years gone by were Ahab, the liberals, and the sectarians, is it possible that today the guilty are they that cry "you do not love orphans," "you are hard-hearted" etc.? Let us see.

Aren't these institutions houses of convenience? Isn't it easy to pack our orphans to these homes then send a meager fifth Sunday contribution saying I believe in caring for orphans?

Each Christian has the responsibility, determined by ability and opportunity, to render good to all mankind. The church is obligated to take care of its own. Isn't it easy to have that opportunity only to shove it on the brotherhood? A certain fellow with a sizeable income placed his own mother in an institution; is he taking care of the needy in sending five dollars a month to this place?

How many of the brethren who contribute to churches sending money to these institutions give any more for this reason? Aren't you giving God His share of your prosperity tagged with the assertion — "Now do my benevolent work"?

Brethren, when will the brotherhood awake? When will we realize the power of the living example — of Christians rendering good, being unselfish, not discriminating in any way, and the church joyously taking care of its own? When this day comes we will find ourselves back in New Testament days with New Testament ways; people will be added daily, and the church will be edified and happy.

Is It True What They Say?