Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 14
March 7, 1963
NUMBER 43, PAGE 4,12b-13a

"Awake, Thou That Sleepest"

Editorial

No one can read the New Testament with any degree of understanding without being impressed with the sense of urgency which dominated the lives of these early disciples. We think it cannot be questioned that many of them were expecting the return of the Lord at any moment. Indeed, Paul wrote his second letter to the Thessalonians to correct certain bad developments there which were growing out of an inordinate emphasis on the expectancy of an immediate return of the Savior.

Our generation is certainly not afflicted with this problem. Quite the contrary. The tenor of our time is almost summed up in the attitude of those Peter described as scoffers or mockers, saying, "in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." (2 Pet. 3:4) Our age has grown so indifferent toward spiritual values that we seem to have almost no sense of urgency about much of anything having to do with eternity.

We fear that too many churches, even churches nominally holding to the pattern of sound words, have almost gone to sleep on the job. While there are a few congregations and a proportionately greater number of individuals who seem to sense the awful need, we still discern a terrible lethargy on every hand, a willingness to accept the status quo, a hesitancy about launching out into new works for the cause of Christ, an unwillingness to go into new fields, or to understand the cries for assistance and be sympathetic toward the pleas for help that are coming from every quarter of the land as faithful brethren try to get new congregations going. We have letters from Japan, from Hawaii, from Alaska, from Australia, from Europe and Africa, not to mention from all sections of our own continental United States asking for help. Who can go? And who can send those who are willing to go? How much SACRIFICE is being made by faithful brethren to see that others have a chance to hear the word of life? If we were given definite knowledge that 1963 would be the last year in which we could do anything at all for the service of God, would we act any differently? Would our contributions on the Lord's Day be the same as they are? Would our efforts to gain others to the gospel of Christ be any greater? Would our own prayers and devotion be any more faithful or sincere? The answer to all of these questions ought to be a strong "NO." And if we are serving God as faithfully as Christians ought to serve him, there would be no increase in our devotion, our efforts, or our contributions regardless of how little or how much time we might have.

— F. Y. T.

"Tract — Of — The — Month"

We continue to receive a most encouraging response to our "Tract — of — the — month" plan of providing a new tract each month. A number of churches are now using this plan for increasing their teaching program, sending out a hundred or more tracts each month to their prospective lists. This is one simple way in which even the smallest congregation can have a positive program of evangelism. Where is the congregation that cannot spend as much as $10.00 per month in trying to reach the lost in its own community? Well, for $10.00 per month you can secure 100 tracts to mail out to 100 families in your community, sending a new tract each month to these same people. Thus, month by month, you continue to press the claims of Christ on the same ones. It is certain that some of those receiving the tracts will read them. And it is equally certain that a certain percentage of those who read the tracts will receive the truth and become obedient to it! The word of God has not lost its power; it will still reach the heart.

Instead of some contribution to some brotherhood wide promotion, concerning which you can have little knowledge, why not invest your meager funds where you can have some chance of seeing the results with your own eyes? Why not try this plan for your own community? On the back page of the paper this week we give more detailed information as to how some congregations are using this "Tract-of-the-Month" program and securing the cooperation of various ones to get the tracts properly distributed each month. The plan is proving very satisfactory, and results are already apparent.

Scheduled for printing within the next few months will be such tracts as "The Holy Spirit and Conversion" by James Adams, "The Baptisms of the Bible" by Charles Holt, "The Church of Christ vs The Churches of Men" by Yater Tant, "Music Divinely Appointed For Worship" by Cecil Douthitt, "The Lord's Supper" by Luther Blackmon, and "The Final Judgment Day" by James R. Cope. Additional tracts on interesting and vital themes are being planned. This is an opportunity for both churches and individuals. Why not start today by sending in your order for a supply of the tracts in print?

— F. Y. T.