Watchman Archives

History tells us that Don Carlos Janes was one of the most zealous advocates for foreign missionary work of his day. We are told that he traveled 9,000 miles to visit various mission fields in the year 1919 alone, and that he conducted a world tour in 1920. However, our feelings towards him are tempered by the fact the brother Janes believed in premillennialism. Earl West writes of one of the results of brother Janes’ work: “Clearly, then, premillenialism reached out to touch the vast mission fields over the world.” (Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 4, p. 204) This brief look into the past should cause us to be circumspect in our view of mission work in our day. This is especially so in light of the convictions some brethren today have expressed with regards to unity.

Calling names will never be popular. This fact alone should neither encourage or discourage us. Nor should the reaction of the public be the total criterion. While some human judgment must determine our practice, the most important factor must be that of a boldness in declaring Jesus that reflects a New Testament spirit. Such preaching will arouse and convict; it will irritate and confound; it will cause extreme reactions and deepest opposition … among those in sin. But of those in sin will be some who can be led into paths of righteousness and salvation by this same bold preaching.

Gambling is now legalized in twenty-six states. This figure will no doubt, increase in the near future. As the problem increases so does our responsibility to deal with it.

The manuscript evidence for the New Testament is truly overwhelming. If we approach the subject objectively, we must admit that all of the manuscript evidence points to the genuineness and authenticity of the books. They were written when they claim to have been written, and by whom they claim to have been written. Moreover, the text we have today is true to the original documents. Any claim, then, that “the Bible has been changed”, or that “the Gospels were written generations after the fact”, is demonstrably false. Consequently, any argument or doctrine built upon such a claim necessarily falls apart. Whenever we pick up a literal translation of the Bible, we have in our hands a substantially accurate rendition of some authentic – and very important – ancient documents.

Much was said a generation ago, by able contenders for the faith, about “tendencies” that led to the departure from the New Testament order of things. Departures were gradual and always began with “tendencies” which the thoughtless and uninformed thought innocent enough, and they often became very impatient with, and just as often used bitter speech in denouncing loyal and able men who were able to see what these “tendencies” would ultimately lead to.

We have however, in the church today, a new generation, many of whom are unfamiliar with the battles waged in the past against digression and the tendencies that developed into it. They appear to be blind to any dangers, and like Galileo of old, “care for none of these things.”

It is clear, then, that individuals may support Christian schools–primary, grammar, high school and college. Let us so support Christian schools that they may grow and prosper, while remaining sound; but let no secular institution be joined to the church, and let the church as such keep itself separated from any secular institution.

We need again to say that when the energy, money, prayers, and abilities of the church in any community are given to do this work, God’s purposes are served. But when they are diverted to serve other purposes, the church of God, divine in design and purpose, is prostituted to serve human aims, and God cannot be pleased.

For the church to burden itself down with benevolences of every kind, much of which is the obligation of individuals or of the state, tax supported, so that it cannot preach the gospel, is to defeat its primary purpose. Hence, God placed around these works of benevolence the restrictions which we have already noted. It cannot be right to let the eternal souls of men go down to destruction because of the church being overburdened with caring for temporal wants and necessities.

Teaching, exhortation, admonition, and instruction in righteousness are all required. The word of God is designed to fill each one of these needs, and must only be taught to do so (2 Timothy 3:16, 17.) The church is designed to do the teaching; hence, all that is needed is for the church simply to carry out God’s plan, and do that which God designed it to do.

Be not afraid to speak that word which these dead soldiers preached. Their courage and their determination and their devotion serve to instruct, to motivate, and ultimately to save us by the preaching of the implanted word of God (James 1:21).

The principle of death as mentioned here in this text is both physical and spiritual. As a result of Adam’s sin, physical death entered into the world. They were banished from the Garden of Eden, and the immortality granted them by the Tree of Life. All who live on this earth will die, and this will remain true until Christ comes again. However, the spiritual death intimated here by James is much more serious. Spiritual death is Separation from God. And without the new birth which comes through obedience to His word, the death will be for an eternity.

We must conclude that the people who developed the ancient Chinese written language were aware of the same account of the creation and earliest history of man that is recorded in the Bible. This is a powerful testimony to the truthfulness and accuracy of the scriptural record.

Finally, one thing is incontrovertibly settled: those who adopt this practice (instrumental music in worship) are, to that extent, guided by the wisdom of man, and not by the wisdom of God; and they thus openly violate the plain and positive requirement of the Lord that His followers shall walk by faith.

The rapid growth of the early church was the result of “teaching.” Those who were scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution went everywhere “preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). This is what they had been doing before they were scattered too! One of the greatest needs of the church today is for brethren, all of us, to get busy teaching God’s word to those who know it not.

So far as the churches of Christ are concerned, the fundamental teaching of truth during the Restoration Movement was so effective (cf: “The Scheme of Redemption,” by Robert Milligan) that it eradicated practically every vestige of Calvinism among Christians. From the early 1800’s until our generation, classic Calvinism (TULIP) has been recognized as the error it is and has not been a source of internal strife (must less a cause of division) within local congregations. However, history will record that it has become the task of our generation to combat these errors again.

Regardless of how perfect one’s attendance at the services of the local church may be, God still desires mercy (compassion, loyalty, knowledge…Matthew 9:13 and Hosea 6:6). Regardless of how popular or widely known a person may be among the brotherhood, God still desires that individual’s behavior to be based on love (Matthew 22:37-39), even if the circumstances are not YET widely known.

Debemos tener conciencia de la providencia en nuestra vida. Debemos vivir confiadamente–sin miedo–reconociendo que “el hombre no es señor de su camino, ni del hombre que camina es el ordenar sus pasos” (Jer 10:23). Nuestra peregrinación aquí es corta y depende a todo momento de Dios (Stg 4:13-15). Cuando oramos por la salud de los enfermos, o por el presidente del país, estamos pidiendo la providencia, no milagros, ni “buena suerte”, sino una poderosa intervención de Dios a favor de los suyos.

It is evident to those who have not been unduly influenced by the deceiver that character and moral leadership is important to society. This is true on the national scale, as well as in our individual lives as we work, interact with our families and friends, and as we seek to serve our God. It is easy, however, for us to wag our fingers at the immoralities in our society, and not recognize the dangerous influences society can have on us as Christians.

I find the behavior of Christians in the past very troublesome, especially in light of the problems which continue to exist today. Racism undoubtedly was present among Christians in the past, and racism still exists in some form even today. Christians who claim perfection in knowing and understanding God’s doctrine concerning the church, the faith and life are futile in their own perfection if racism and other forms of injustice are accommodated and even promoted among Christians.