Seek The Old Paths

Vol. 24   No. 8                   August,   2013


This Issue...





WHY I AM NO LONGER A PENTECOSTAL #3

William Davis
If divine healing is such a privilege and readily available to Pentecostals, then why isn’t it happening among them? Why do they run to the doctor at the first sign of a sickness? Why are so many on prescription drugs? Why do they have surgery and other costly medical treatments just like everyone else?

PENTECOSTALISM TEACHES FALSE DOCTRINE CONCERNING
DIVINE, MIRACLE HEALING

        They are confused over the purpose of miracles. The purpose of miracles was not to make our lives better or free from care. In this world, a Christian lives a normal life just like anyone else. When people are taught they can have a miracle and it doesn’t happen, they often become angry and bitter against God. Flamboyant preachers constantly promise the people health and wealth. Without fail, all of these preachers become wealthy by the donations of their followers and consequently receive quality medical care from the best doctors! These teachers make outlandish claims and promises which is neither backed by Scripture nor substantiated by facts.
        In a foolish attempt to try to promote modern day miracles, one famous individual wrote a book called, “A Miracle a Day Keeps the Devil Away.” However, what many people call a miracle is nothing more than something good happening or things going their way. It’s this kind of nonsense that causes an unsaved world to mock the Bible and scoff at the existence of God.
        The serious student of Scripture will find that miracles did not happen all the time throughout the ages. They have always had a limited operation. They were not being doled out like candy at a child’s birthday party every time someone had a cough or a migraine. Jesus illustrates this fact in Luke 4:25-27 when He said, “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.” Jim Sheerer states of these passages; “Jesus uses two stories to show that God has always been selective with his miracles. The miracles were not to amuse people, but were to confirm God’s prophets and further God’s plan of salvation.” (Sheerer Commentary on the New Testament)
        A careful study of the Scriptures reveal that miraculous gifts were given to serve the purpose of confirming God’s Word. Even in the days of Moses, the miracles that were performed confirmed what the prophet said as well as God’s purpose for the Israelite nation. In the days of Christ, miracles confirmed His ministry and Messiahship. Jesus challenged the unbelieving Jews to examine His miracles when He said, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me” (John 5:36). Jesus does not beat around the bush. He draws their attention to the works He had performed without hesitation. He clearly states their purpose by saying “the...works...bear witness of me.”
        In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells the Jews that if they did not believe his words that he was the Son of God, they should believe in Him because of His miracles. “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (John 10:37-38). His miracles were the evidence that He was speaking the truth.
        Jesus pointed the disciples to His works as proof of His divinity when He said, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:11). The works of Christ were the confirmation that He was the Messiah (John 20:30-31).
        Miracles also served the purpose of confirming the Gospel after Christ ascended. The apostles were to continue in the ministry of Christ for the purpose of establishing the church. As Jesus said to them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). These works were for the purpose of confirming their apostleship and that the words they spoke were from God. Notice what the Scripture says: “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20). “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will” (Heb. 2:3-4)?
        Paul makes reference to the apostle’s special ability in miracles by saying, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Cor. 12:12).
        Once the Scriptures were complete (i.e., there was no more divine revelation to be given), miracles ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Jude 3). Pentecostals don’t understand the purpose of miracles and this lack of understanding leads to confusion and frustration. But notice the official doctrinal statement of the Assemblies of God: “Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.” http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_ful l.cfm#12
        According to the dictionary, the word integral means, necessary: being an essential part of something or any of the parts that make up a whole. Synonyms are: essential, vital, basic, fundamental, central. (Encarta: World English Dictionary & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved)
        According to their doctrinal statement, receiving divine healing should be no harder than becoming a Christian. But, if divine healing is such a privilege and readily available, then why isn’t it happening among their members? Why do Pentecostals run to the doctor at the first sign of a sickness just like everyone else? Why are so many Pentecostals on prescription drugs just like everyone else? Why do Pentecostals have surgery and other costly medical treatments just like everyone else, if divine, miracle healing is their privilege like they teach?
        Logic demands that if you teach divine healing is for today, then it must of necessity take place. Notice what the Bible shows when Peter and John stood before the council: “If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ... And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it” (Acts 4:9-10,14). The Apostles had proof of the miracle working power of God. They were not just claiming something that never happened or could not be proven. The man was genuinely healed and standing there for all to see. This was a fulfillment of Mark 16:20.
        Pentecostals teach that divine healing is just as much a part of the atonement as forgiveness of sins. But none of it can be backed up. No one anywhere sees it taking place. There are many claims of miraculous, divine healing taking place, but they cannot be either seen or substantiated. There are a lot of people who claim to be healed of something internal, something unseen. Even then, most of these (if not all of them) receive some type of medical assistance or treatment.
        At the churches where I have been, there were people who went to doctors all the time, but when they got better, everyone claimed divine healing. That’s not divine miracle healing. Three surgeries and eight prescriptions later is not divine healing! That’s nothing out of the ordinary. Friend, I spent over 50 years in Pentecostalism and never saw one genuine miracle! Just before I left the Pentecostal church I went to visit and pray for an elderly woman who was in her 80s. She said to me, “You know Bro. Davis, after all these years I’ve never seen a miracle!” She had probably been in Pentecostalism longer than I had, but in a moment of honesty, as she struggled with her physical weakness and sickness, she had to admit the absence of ‘miracle healings’ in the Pentecostal church.
        Miraculous gifts have been “done away” because the canon of Scripture has reached “perfection” — completion (1 Cor. 13:8-10). They are no longer needed.

PENTECOSTALISM IS A CREATION OF MAN

        Pentecostals themselves admit its beginnings were in America around the turn of the 20th century. Oral Roberts University makes this claim: “The Pentecostal movement is by far the largest and most important religious movement to originate in the United States. Beginning in 1901 with only a handful of students in a Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, the number of Pentecostals increased steadily throughout the world during the Twentieth Century until by 1993 they had become the largest family of Protestants in the world.” (http://webapps.oru.edu/new_php/library/holyspirit/pentorg1.html)
        The Assemblies of God official statement says that “the beginning of the modern Pentecostal revival is generally traced to a prayer meeting at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas, on January 1, 1901.” http://www.cai.org/bible- studies/history-pentecostal-movement
        It is only fair to mention the fact that the Church of God claims tongues speaking around 1896 even though the group did not call themselves Church of God until 1907. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_God_(Cleveland,_Tennessee)
        The point is this: these groups were clearly started by men in America during the early part of the twentieth century. That makes them nearly nineteen hundred years too late to be the Lord’s church (Matt. 16:18). And, even though they may try to claim relationship with the Christians in Acts chapter two, it doesn’t work. No Christian in the book of Acts or during the first century ever called themselves Pentecostal(s). As a matter of fact, no one throughout church history ever called themselves a Pentecostal. The actual term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. It commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai. True Christians do not attempt to identify with Jewish feast days, they identify with Christ. The book of Acts tells us the disciples were called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).
        While I was still a Pentecostal I remember listening to a preacher friend get all emotional about being a Pentecostal and how we should act like Pentecostals. As I sat there, my mind began to reflect on the book of Acts and how that no one in the early church ever referred to themselves as a Pentecostal and how that no one was ever called a Pentecostal. I thought, “Why are we calling ourselves by something different than the first century Christians?” And then I realized, if we are calling ourselves by something different, it must be because we are something different than what they were. My friends, I don’t want to be something different than what the early Christians were. I don’t want to be a part of some modern concoction of man. I just want to be a Christian!
                 612 Edith Lane
                 Pensacola, FL 32534


We want to thank brother Bill Davis for taking the time to tell us about his involvment in Pentecostalism. We appreciate his honest heart in pursing the truth and his courage to stand in the old paths in obeying God’s word. This three part series has been put together in one document and can be printed and passed out freely. www.seektheoldpaths.com/pentecostalism.pdf


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 Editorial...
“SPEAKING IN TONGUES” #1

Garland M. Robinson

        A tongue is “the language used by a particular people in distinction from that of other nations” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). “Speaking in tongues” is always used this way in the Bible.
        The first instance of “speaking in tongues” was at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. “And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language...Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city” (Gen. 11:6-8). Prior to the tower of Babel, all men spoke the same language, for no other languages existed! For God to “confound their language” was to simply cause them to speak a language which they did not previously know —one they had never studied in order to learn.
        “Speaking in tongues” was never heard again until the beginning of the church of Christ on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). There was a purpose for God causing the people to speak in different languages in Genesis 11 just as there was a purpose for the same type languages spoken in the New Testament and recorded in Acts 2:1-21 (the 12 apostles on Pentecost), Acts 10:11 (those at the house of Cornelius), Acts 19:1-7 (12 men at Ephesus), and I Corinthians chapters 12-14 (some in the church at Corinth). What men may “surmise” to be the purpose of speaking in tongues and what the Bible actually says was the purpose of speaking in tongues, are entirely two different things. Since the Bible is the book from which we will one day be judged (John 12:48), let’s let it tell us what we need to know concerning “speaking in tongues.”

THE MEANING AND USE OF “TONGUES” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

        The word “tongue” or “tongues” is found 60 times in the English New Testament. Fifty of the sixty times the word “tongues” appears, the Greek word translated is glossa (which is the basis for this study). Glossa simply means: tongue, the little member in the mouth (James 3:5). With the exception of four verses (where it refers to the literal tongue), it has reference in a figurative sense to a “spoken language.” It is used in this sense over 90% of the time in the New Testament. In each and every case, it refers to a spoken, intelligible, human language and never anything else.
        Twenty-five of the fifty times the word appears, it describes the miraculous phenomenon of “speaking in tongues.” Below, are the verses in which glossa appears and how it is used:

  • the literal tongue (Mark 7:33; Luke 16:24; Acts 2:3; Rev. 16:10),
  • a spoken language (Mark 7:35; Luke 1:64; Acts 2:11; 2:26; Rom. 3:13; 14:11; Phil. 2:11; James 1:26; 3:5,6,6,8; 1 Peter 3:10; 1 John 3:18; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15),
  • speaking a language by miracle (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12:10,10,28,30; 13:1,8; 14:2,4,5,5,6, 9,13,14,18,19,22,23,26,27,39).

HOW SOME USE “TONGUES” TODAY

        Many religious people today say it has reference in some cases to an “unknown tongue,” or “ecstatic utterance, speech” —a language, they say, understood and known only to God. “Ecstatic” means: “Relating to, or marked by ecstasy.” “Ecstasy” means: “a state of being beyond reason and self-control.” Therefore, we are told that when they speak in “unknown tongues” they are not speaking a language known to man, but that God understands. If this be the case, we ought to be able to successfully use this definition in every place the word glossa appears.
        Notice the following comparison of several verses transposing the word “language” with “ecstatic speech.”

LANGUAGE

ECSTATIC SPEECH
Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new languages.” Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new ecstatic speech.”
Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other ecstatic speech as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 10:46 “For they heard them speak with languages and magnify God.” Acts 10:46 “For they heard them speak with ecstatic speech and magnify God.”
Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with languages and prophesied.” Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with ecstatic speech and prophesied.”
I Cor. 12:10 “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.” I Cor. 12:10 “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of ecstatic speech; to another the interpretation of ecstatic speech.”
I Cor. 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of languages.” I Cor. 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of ecstatic speech.”
I Cor. 12:30 “Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with languages? do all interpret?” I Cor. 12:30 “Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with ecstatic speech? do all interpret?”
I Cor. 13:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be languages, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” I Cor. 13:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be ecstatic speeches, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

        From the scriptures noted above, note the following comparison between “speaking in tongues” in the Bible and the so-called “ecstatic utterances” of today.

 “SPEAKING IN TONGUES”

“ECSTATIC UTTERANCES”
1. They were languages they had not studied. 1.Generally just a collection of sounds called “ecstatic utterances.”
2. Contemporary languages that conveyed meaning. 2. Sometimes bits of modern languages or claims concerning some “forgotten language.“
3. Only one interpretation possible. 3. Often “interpretations” vary.
4. Emphasis on public demonstration. 4. Present emphasis on private devotional use.
5. Nothing to do with maturity and spiritual growth. 5. Stressed as a sign of growing maturity.
6. Did not prove that the “speaker” was in God’s favor. 6. Considered a proof of God’s acceptance.
7. Basically a “sign” to others. 7. Considered basically a “sign” to self.
8. Used to confirm the Word. 8. Leads men to subjective authority — away from the objective authority of the Bible.
9. A unique sign from God. 9. Can be psychologically induced.
10. Could not be duplicated by non-Christians. 10. “Ecstatic utterances” found in pagan religions and in sects teaching false doctrines.
11. Never any emphasis on all speaking in tongues. 11. All are urged to seek this “gift.“
12. Specific instructions given for use in assembly: only with an interpreter, only a few, they must take turns, no women speaking, orderly, etc. 12. Often every New Testament instruction is violated.
13. Given Temporarily for a special purpose —was to cease. 13. Considered a permanent part of God’s arrangement for the Christian age.
14. Not emphasized. 14. Greatly emphasized.

Chart by David Roper, Tract #211, “Speaking In Tongues“,
Star Bible Pub., Ft. Worth, TX, nd. p.9


1 CORINTHIANS 14 AND ECSTATIC UTTERANCES

        First Corinthians 14 is used by modern-day, self-proclaimed “tongue speakers” as a “proof text” for their claims of miraculous endowment. It is obvious their “tongue speaking” is not an intelligent language, so in response they say no one is supposed to understand because their “unintelligent sounds” are speaking to God, not man, and give verse two as proof of their practice: “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
        The whole context completely refutes their supposed doctrine. The problem in Corinth was their abuse of spiritual gifts, especially “speaking in tongues.” For some reason they coveted this gift above all others and loved to exercise it in the assembly. Paul’s writing in chapters 12-14 was to correct their misuse and explain the true purpose of such miraculous gifts. When Paul said their tongue speaking was “not unto men, but unto God,” he simply was indicating that it was not understood by those present, not that it was not intended to be understood. His point is clear that if any spoke in tongues, there must also be one to interpret what was spoken (v.5), else, none would be able to profit from it. He said such utterances were useless. They were just spoken “into the air” (v.9). Even the one speaking in the “tongue” (language) does not benefit from it since no one interprets what he said (v.14). Tongue speaking under such circumstances would be understood by no one but God, so wherein is the benefit to men? It would defeat the whole purpose of speaking in a foreign language since its goal was to communicate the will of God for the purpose of producing faith in the unbeliever!
        Tongues were for a “sign,” not to them that believed (Christians), but to them that did not believe (those not Christians) (v.22). Speaking in gibberish and unintelligible sounds would not be a sign to anyone, especially the unbeliever! Such displays would cause the unbeliever to mock and laugh. No miracle of God would ever cause any such thing! All spiritual gifts were designed to build faith in God and his word, not make men ridicule. For one to hear a man speak in his own language fluently as if it were his native tongue when in fact it was not, would cause that person to believe that, indeed, a notable miracle had been done. This was the effect on Pentecost, “...the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:6-8,11).
        Whenever speaking in tongues was exercised properly in the New Testament, it always accomplished its desired effect —taught men the Word of God through communicable, understandable speech (language). The result was, “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”
                 (Part 1 of 3)
                

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THE SAD TRUTH

        Monday, May 13th, 2013, Philadelphia ‘late term abortionist’ Kermit Gosnell was convicted of three counts of first degree murder. He severed the spinal cords of new born babies (infanticide) rather than help sustain their life. He will receive his earthly reward of going to prison. If he doesn’t repent, he will receive his eternal reward (which is far worse) before God at the judgment (2 Cor. 5:10). He no doubt is guilty of killing many more innocent babies throughout the years.
        Abortionists are considered the ‘scum of the earth’ in the medical field. They either were not able to make it as a legitimate doctor who helps aid life or they simply sold out for the money while taking the lives of the innocent (cf. 1 Tim. 6:10).
        Major news networks chose not to report these events or give as little information as possible in fear of letting the country see just how cruel and inhumane abortion truly is. If the American people had to take an honest look at what is really involved in performing abortions (with babies butchered and thrown in the trash like waste), the majority would stop supporting abortion and those people who endorse it. Jesus said “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). It is past time that Americans in general, and Christians specifically, see the sad truth of what our country is allowing to go on every single day.
        Mr. Gosnell actually could have been free of crime had he simply murdered these babies while still in the womb, as abortionists ‘legally’ do every day. He is going to prison for what so many are doing every day with the approval of the public. The writer of Proverbs lists “six things the Lord doth hate: yea seven that are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:16-17).
        The country is outraged that anyone could commit such a horrific act (and they should be). But what so many do not realize is that President Obama (while a state senator in Illinois) voted three times (2001, 2002, 2003) against a bill that would require life-saving measures be given to a baby that was born alive as a result of a botched abortion. His explanation to not render life-saving aid to these babies was that he thought the bill would undermine Roe v Wade by defining any baby (fetus) as a human being and therefore deserving of human rights, which would lead to overturning the infamous supreme court abortion rights decision of 1973. Are not little babies human beings whether in the womb or out of the womb? Would it not be the case that denying medical treatment to a baby born alive, allowing the child to die, amount to infanticide? Millions of people in this country and around the world say ‘let the babies die.’ How is President Barak Hussein Obama’s votes to let the babies die, any different than Kermit Gosnell? Maybe Mr. Gosnell would not be going to prison if he had simply run for President of the United States. In the words of James: “My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10).
        I have heard many weak excuses as to why one can support abortion, or those who run for office that keep it legal, but none of them justify what abortion truly is. It is ‘legal’ murder, and to all those who support it in any way (including and especially unfaithful preachers that will not preach the truth on the subject), “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). God will take care of it at the judgment.
        It is past time we look at the sad truth!
                Mark Lance
                2912 Palmisano Blvd.
                Chalmette, LA 70043


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A NATIONAL TRAGEDY

Stephen Wiggins
A blatant disregard for God’s laws pertaining to sexual conduct is one of the major reasons why abortion is so rampant within our country

        A man walks into an elementary school and kills twenty children between the ages of six and seven. This equals premeditated, cold-blooded murder. That wicked act took place in Connecticut in December, 2012. The tragedy has moved our nation to tears as we ponder precious children being slaughtered in such an inhumane fashion.
        Sympathizing hearts go out to those families affected by this evil act. I do not intend to minimize this malicious deed in any way whatsoever with what I say in this article. I simply want to promote self-examination concerning our own actions on both an individual and national level. Consider the following.
        Those same innocent children could have been put to death six or seven years earlier in compliance with American law. Their deaths could have been paid for by tax revenue. Most Americans would have never even noticed or cared. It certainly would not have been anything which would have made the six o’clock news.
        That’s right. Those same children who met their fate in Connecticut could have been murdered in cold blood prior to their birth. This would have all been in harmony with our national laws. Our tax money would even have paid for putting them to death in a very excruciating manner. And, it would have never so much as made the front page of most newspapers as a newsworthy event.
        This evil act is called “abortion.” Within the USA between one and two million unborn children are murdered annually. Human lives are snuffed out at a daily rate and most Americans pay no attention. This all happens legally, in accordance with human laws that we as a nation have set in motion and uphold by our judicial system.
        As a nation, we have passed political legislation which supports killing the fetus while it is still in the uterus. This equals taking the life of a human being, an unborn child. It does not seem to matter to us as a nation that we are committing premeditated, cold-blooded murder. Have we not read where God says he “hates” those “hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:16-17)?
        Is it not the height of hypocrisy for a nation to be shocked over the deaths of twenty children and yet virtually show no outrage on a national level over the fact that we are involved in the systematic murder of innocent children on a daily basis? Since 1973, when legislation made the horrendous crime of abortion legal on a national level, the number murdered reaches into the multiplied millions. We are angry over the deaths of twenty. Are we angry over the deaths of more than 55 million since 1973?
        The problem is compounded when local and national leaders do not possess enough spiritual fortitude to live morally upright lives themselves. And they shall never lift a finger to condemn the rampant sexual immorality which exists within society, among the young and old alike, when they are guilty of the same sins.
        Way too often we seem content to allow Hollywood to glamorize fornication and adultery and so influence our youth to their own moral detriment. Same sex marriage remains the new rage as God’s definition and design for marriage is nonchalantly dismissed with a proverbial wave of the hand. Way too many Americans today are immoral and the good guys become the bad guys when they speak against such pathetic conduct.
        Here is the point: a blatant disregard for God’s laws pertaining to sexual conduct is one of the major reasons why abortion is so rampant within our country. Abortion logically follows sexual immorality when, among the godless, unloved and unwanted children are conceived and brought into the world. Shall we as a nation continue to turn a blind eye to the moral filth which hastens the spiritual deterioration of our country resulting in murder of the unborn?
        Further, we have de-valued human life in our country to such an extent that we have unwittingly created monsters who take the lives of innocent children. These monsters appear both on the individual and national level. We have accomplished this, in part, by excluding God’s word from our schools, along with spiritual influence of any magnitude, and rather promoted the godless philosophy of evolution —which maintains that human beings are NOT created in the image of God.
        Evolution says that human life in no more sacred than the life of a cockroach. The only difference is that human beings are further down the line in the evolutionary process. This equals a de-valuing of human life to such an extent that we are now witnessing both individuals and nations alike exhibit no moral conscious when it comes to the murder of innocent children. In light of these facts, whom does God consider to be committing cold-blooded murder on a national level?
                105 East Planters
                San Augustine, TX 75972


Abortion kills. In the most grusome fashion, abortion puts to death precious little girls and precious little boys. Everyone thinking about abortion ought to be made to watch videos of how their child will be put to death and thrown out in today’s trash. Killing one’s own children has been around for thousands of years, but today’s moms can’t wait till the child is born, they want to rip the infant out of their womb so they don’t have to see what they have done. —Editor

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JUST PREACH ABOUT LOVE

        In response to hearing the Truth upheld and false doctrine being refuted, some say, “Why don’t you just preach about love?” Some have the notion, and it is false, that you cannot “declare and defend the Truth” and at the same time have “love.” The thinking of some is that love will never condemn sin and if one does so, he is unloving.
        Some are confused about what Bible “love” really is and how it is to be demonstrated. Preaching Bible “love” in no way precludes declaring, demonstrating and defending Bible Truth. If we are to preach “love“, and we must, what is involved?
        To preach “love” is to preach the LOVE OF GOD. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
        To preach “love” is to preach LOVE FOR GOD. “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matt. 22:36-38). “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is not enough just to declare with our lips our love for God. Our love must also be demonstrated by and in our lives. Therefore, we will: 1) spend time in prayer (Col. 4:2); 2) search and study His Word (John 5:39; 2 Tim. 2:15); 3) seek spiritual things first (Matt. 6:33); 4) serve him in obeying His Word (John 14:15) and 5) state and show our love for others (1 John 4:21).
        To preach “love” is to preach LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD. “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97). If we have a love for God’s Word, then that will be demonstrated in what we proclaim and practice. A love for God’s Word means that we will “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2), “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), not preach a perverted Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), and not “wrest” the Scriptures to our own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).
        To preach “love” is to preach LOVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GODLY AND THOSE WHO ARE GODLESS. We are to love all mankind, including our enemies (Matt. 22:39; 5:43-44). “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). We are to “love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:23). Love for others means that we will do what we can to help physically and spiritually (Gal. 6:1-2,10; 1 John 3:17; James 5:19-20; Jude 23). Proclaiming the Truth to others, praying for others, persuading people to give up their sins and to promptly obey the Gospel is demonstrating the proper kind of love for others.
        We cannot say we are preaching “love” and that we genuinely love others when we withhold the saving Gospel from them and refuse to “reprove, rebuke and exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2).
                Jerry Joseph
                PO Box 1385
                St. Peters, MO 63376


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“Glad to hear your printer has been provided for. Amazing how God provides isn’t it” ...McMinnville, TN. “I truly enjoy the publication of Seek The Old Paths. My best friend gave me all of her’s for a lot of months but she and I both moved, so I don’t see her anymore. I belong to the church. Please pray for me and please send me STOP” ...Margaret Mullins, Madill, OK. “Thank you very much for the Old Paths. I pray you never stop writing the truth about the Gospel. I believe the Gospel and our Lord’s church to be our only hope for heaven. So many of the Lord’s church have gone the way of the world as well as our brothers and sisters. Please keep the fine writing coming” ...Brenda Chouinard, Bonifay, FL. “Will you please put me back on the mailing list to receive the Seek The Old Paths? I stopped receiving the paper and I don’t know why because I did not request to stop the paper. I look forward to getting it back each month. It has valuable articles each month and I share with others. 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You said it represents the Lord’s death only, not the burial and resurrection. Please send me the story about that” ...Everett Poteet, Imboden, AR. [EDITOR’S NOTE: This was the Feb/12 issue. It is online at: seektheoldpaths.com/stop212.htm#TLS. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says ’For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.’ It does not say we show the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection till he come. It says we show the Lord’s death. As we eat the unleavened bread we are mindful of the Lord’s body, his suffering and death (v.24). As we drink the cup (fruit of the vine) we are mindful of his blood shed in his death (v.25). These two elements (bread and cup) memorialize (commemorate) specifically his death, not his resurrection. What element(s) represent, memorialize, his burial and resurrection? There are none in the Lord’s supper. Obviously his burial and resurrection followed his death. Without his resurrection there is no hope for mankind (1 Cor. 15:12-20). But, there is no passage showing a specific link between the Lord’s supper and his burial and resurrection. We certainly cannot minimize his resurrection. To do so would be foolish indeed. In baptism, we die to sin (Rom. 6) — Jesus died on the cross. In baptism we are buried in water — Jesus was buried in a tomb. In baptism we are raised up out of the water — Jesus was raised up from the dead. If anything, we memorialize his resurrection in the fact of the church assembling on the first day of the week. The first day of the week was when Jesus arose from the dead (Mark 16:9), the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the church began, and the first Gospel sermon was preached (Acts 2). The first day of the week is when the church assembled to eat the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7) and to ‘lay by in store’ (1 Cor. 16:2). These thoughts are presented for our further study. 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We are overjoyed by the multitude of generous contributions. Because of you, we are on a very good footing for the foreseeable future. A very big thanks to everyone who has a part in Seek The Old Paths: those who contribute financially, the many workers who help in preparation and mailing, those who pray for the spreading of the Gospel and the thousands of readers who appreciate it and tell others about it. What a blessing it is to be among those of “like precious faith.” One good brother (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent $1,000 in honor of Douglas LaCourse, a long-time Gospel preacher from Canada who is nearly 100 yrs old. I know brother LaCourse, have been in his home and preached a meeting where he was working in Elliott Lake, Ontario many years ago.


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