Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
August 1, 1957
NUMBER 13, PAGE 12-13b

The Overflow

F. Y. T.

Rule of life

"The rule that governs my life is this: Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it. This simple rule may help you find a safe road for your feet along life's' road."

— J. Wilbur Chapman Logic

Looking through a five year old issue of the Guardian, we ran across this little item on "logic". In view of the great prominence given logic (?) in some recent promotional argumentation, we think this rather interesting: "We like logic. But not everything is logical that looks like logic, and sometimes we are likely to get ourselves tied up in a knot if our 'logic' is faulty. For instance: Here is an automobile. So far as place is concerned as related to this car there are only two possibilities: (1) the place where the car now is, and (2) the place where it is not. Obviously it is impossible for the car to have motion in the place where it now is (it cannot travel in that place); and it would be absurd to speak of its moving in some place where it is not. Hence, the 'logical' conclusion is that the car can never move at all!" Now, let us see some constituent component part brother try his hand on that bit of logic.

Negative preaching — Old Testament

We hear a lot of criticism these days about "negative" preaching; but take a look at Jeremiah 1:9,10: "And Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my word in thy mouth; see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up (negative) and to break down (negative) and to destroy (negative) and to overthrow (negative) to build (positive) and to plant (positive)." Relative proportions of Jeremiah's preaching: two-thirds negative, one-third positive.

Negative preaching — New Testament

If somebody objects that the above is Old Testament preaching, and we are under the New Testament, take a look at Paul's charge to Timothy in II Tim. 4:2: "Preach the word, be urgent in season, out of season; reprove (negative), rebuke (negative, exhort (positive) with all long-suffering and teaching." Relative proportions of Timothy's preaching: two-thirds negative, one-third positive.

Famous last words

"This paper has always been, and always will be, open to a full and free discussion of all things that pertain to life and godliness."

— E. A. Elam, Gospel Advocate, 1906 Regarding calumny

"We think it a sufficient refutation of any calumny or reproach, that the publisher of it dare not meet in his own paper those whom he accuses."

— A. Campbell, Millennial Harbinger, 1831 Ten minutes per cigarette

Latest reports of the American Cancer Society indicate that the heavy smoker probably loses seven years of his life because of his smoking. One package a day for fifty years adds up to 365,000 cigarettes. And seven years of life comes out to 3,679,200 minutes. Simple division then will show that each cigarette shortens a man's life by ten minutes. Is it worth it?

Herald of Truth

Well, as predicted in the past, the time has come when Fifth and Highland Church, Abilene, Texas, contributes NOTHING to "Herald of Truth". All she does now apparently is spend the money sent in by other churches. Even the salary of her own paid elder is paid by other churches! Fifth and Highland has stopped practically all her mission work — and her chief effort now is to promote trouble and division among sister congregations in an effort to continue Herald of Truth. Is it worth it? It has brought confusion and division to God's people all over the nation, and has brought Fifth and Highland virtually to the edge of bankruptcy.

Conscientious scruples

It was one of these "modern" Churches of Christ, with recreation center, youth lounge, gymnasium, banquet room, and an inexhaustible program of picnics, youth rallies, ball games, and entertainments. But the Sunday attendance kept steadily declining. The preacher and the elders were much worried, and put out a questionnaire to some of the most faithful of the saints who were becoming lax in their attendance, asking why they had ceased coming to church on Sundays. They found out: many of the saints said they had conscientious scruples against going to places of amusement on the Lord's day!

Position wanted

"Secretary to pastor — can lead church singing, teach adult Bible class, supply for pastor and coach him in golf. (Business College, College, and Seminary graduate.) Write, Secretary, 215 Dreger Road, Memphis 9, Tennessee."

— Clipped from The Baptist Standard Why not merge?

The idea has appealed to some brethren that the Gospel Advocate and the Gospel Guardian ought to merge. The former has very little Bible teaching, but a big circulation; the latter has the finest Bible teaching to be found in any religious journal but lacks the Advocate's circulation. Now, a merger of the two, using Gospel Guardian material and Gospel Advocate circulation would be a natural!

Great preaching

The b.p. (big preacher) was describing one of his great sermons. "I held them spell-bound," he was boasting. "The entire audience simply sat there with their mouths open." "Incredible!" exclaimed his bored companion, "you mean the entire audience yawned at the same time?"

Deaconness emeritus

We see where the digressive churches in Little Rock, Arkansas, have retired a long time employee of some of their Mission Boards, with the honorary title of "Deaconness emeritus". We know a faithful congregation or two, longsuffering and patient, who devoutly wish they could follow some such example and "retire" some of the sisters with the title of "She-elder emeritus".

Parochial schools

Recent studies and surveys by educational groups have indicated that the parochial schools in the United States tend to be markedly inferior in quality of work to the public schools. The segregation of children on a religious basis prevents that wholesome development and all rounded attitude and outlook that comes from participation in public school life. There's food for thought here to many of our own brethren who are trying to go the "parochial school" route! Better stop, look, and listen before you make a total commitment to this kind of program.

John Wesley

John Wesley, father of Methodism, was taking a walk one day when he happened to meet the famous fop, Beau Nash, on a very narrow bit of pavement. Nash displayed his customary arrogance and rudeness by refusing to share the pavement at all, bringing both men to a standstill. "I never make way for a fool," said Nash insolently. "I always do," replied Wesley, as he stepped to one side and bowed politely.