Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 7
September 29, 1955
NUMBER 21, PAGE 10

Morals And Other Matters

C. D. Plum, Columbus, Ohio

Morals

"For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and an adulteress will hunt for the precious life." (Prov. 6:26)

This charge made against a "whorish woman" in the long ago may be made with equal or greater force today. Why one or many women should "hunt" for the precious life to destroy it with whoredom is difficult for me to understand. This places women on the level so much lower than where she ought to be, and so much lower than what God wanted her to be, is hard for this scribe to be reconciled to her fallen condition. Nor is the sin always on the side of the preying woman, as the scripture I am about to introduce will show.

"But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." (Prov. 6:32)

Whether the woman or man be the aggressor, the sin is the same, and the results are the same. "Brought to a piece of bread" and "destroyeth his own soul" are results connected with whoredom that are certainly not to be desired. These "pleasures of sin for a season" are small compared to "poverty" and "distress of souls" occasioned by such sins.

"Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Heb. 13:4) Sin will not escape the judgment of God. Let us again read: "No whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of God and of Christ." (Eph. 5:5) One would think that such a condemnation as here given would take all the pleasures away from such sins. But it does not now, and never did, with many people.

Then, there is the sin of lying. There is enough said against lying, and the condemnation pronounced against it is so strong, and the penalty attached to it is so great, it would seem to be a wonder that any one would think about lying. But, they do. Lying is still a leading sin.

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor." (Eph 4:25)

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." (Col. 3:9)

Though the command against lying should be sufficient to curb this terrible sin, it does not do so; so the Lord named a punishment for liars. In brief it is this: "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." (Rev. 21:7)

Stealing is also a very demoralizing sin. We are told to provide for "honest things" in both the sight of God and man. (2 Cor. 8:21) To steal from either God or man is evil. More people steal from God than steal from man. Man to man, many are honest. Man to God, many more are dishonest. Men steal "time" that belongs to the Lord. They steal his "day". They squander the "talents" he gave them. They steal from God by not giving as prospered. The Scripture says, "Let him that stole steal no more."

Other Matters

Many people are taking their feelings as evidence of pardon. Many, yea all people that take feelings as evidence of pardon, have refused to "believe and be baptized that thy might be saved". (Mk 16:16) Of course, these people do not know what it means to "be faithful" unto death. But they talk loud and long about the way they feel in their chest, as though the heart God deals with is there. They heed not the Scripture which declares there "is a way" that seemeth right, but the end thereof "is the way of death." They say they wouldn't give what they feel in their chest for all the rest. Poor deluded souls. May they yet see, believe, and obey.

And Another Thing

If the preachers of the denominational churches believe the Bible, and reverently accept everything it says, as they say they do, why do they become disgusted when some one quotes the following from the New Testament: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

And here is something else. Since the Lord said, "I will build my church," and the Holy Spirit said, "There is one body," why do we have so many different kinds of churches in the world? The Bible does not teach a plurality of churches, so people may have the church of their choice. The Lord wants us to accept the church of "his choice."

And another puzzling matter to me is this. It is admitted the following is true: "Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Heb. 5:9) Why don't more obey him?

Then I hear a lot of people talking about how well they know the Lord. But these people have not qualified themselves in knowing the Lord. They may have cried: "Lord, Lord," but that is not the way to know the Lord. Here it is in plain language. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 Jno. 2:3-4) There is no peace or security, either in this world or the world to come, if we are rebels in the sight of God. Are you rebelling against the commandments of Christ?