The Baptist Magazine by Digital Publisher

Not just printing books,

but preserving our heritage

www.BereanPublications.com

CONTENTS

9 July/August 2017 FEATURES 3

Editors’ Letters

What We’re Reading

ARTICLES 6

True Patriotism Many people today do not understand what real patriotism is, but our fathers understood what it meant to be American.

Does Radical Islam Really Exist? Do not believe everything that the left and the mainstream media tell you about the peaceful religion of Islam.

Independent Is More Than a Name America is giving up its independence; but even worse, many churches are doing the same.

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light Can God do a work in an unbeliever’s heart?

How the Resurrection of Christ Destroys Every Other Religion

Bring Me the Books Because our heritage is found in books, we should develop a love for reading.

Old Men for Young Men’s Sake Today more than ever, we need the seasoned veterans of God’s work to be examples to those who come behind.

There are countless religions in the world today, but only Christ reigns supreme.

The Sweetness of the Trial When serving God takes you to places you would never choose to go

Editor-in-Chief Bob Gray, Sr.

Managing Editor Greg Neal

Associate Editor Chris Fox

Creative Director Brian Healy

Copy Editors Rebecca Powell Pam Triplett Angie Hudson

Contributing Writers Jeff Farnham Tracie Burns

The Mitsubishi Diamond 16 Max+ full web press running at Shweiki Media in San Antonio, Texas, where the Baptist Magazine is printed.

Paul E. Chapman

The Baptist is a bi-monthly production of Berean Publications, a ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church, 7268 Exline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32222-1904. In the U.S., send subscription inquiries to the aforementioned address or call (904) 518-4220. You may also e-mail us at baptistmagazineonline@ gmail.com. Subscriptions are $25 per year. All terms and prices are applicable in the United States only. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA mail to CFS. NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to The Baptist Magazine at 7268 Exline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32222-1904. Periodical Posatage Paid at Orange Park, FL. Letters to the editor should be sent to The Baptist at 7268 Exline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32222-1904. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited. To request permission to reprint or publish any article in whole or in part, please write to The Baptist ofﬁces in Jacksonville, FL. © 2017 Berean Publications. All rights reserved.

2 The Baptist Magazine

Since 1998, The Baptist Magazine has brought to our homes vital biblical insight into a world that has, absolutely and consistently, gone bonkers. The headlines of our newspapers are pushing a narrative that is just that: a narrative and not news. Our great nation cannot stop the decay, but we can delay it. Our Sunday schools and our soulwinning programs must be more active than ever. I loved the way Dr. Lee Roberson put it one time when we were preaching together. He said, “The WVTa _Ia aW] _QTT OM\ W‫ ٺ‬WN W]Z ;]VLIa [KPWWT ZWTT Q[ Ja LaQVO º 1 TW^M \PI\ QV\MV[Q\a PM XW[[M[[ML The remedy to our nation’s ills can be found only in aggressive, local New Testament churches that, on a regular weekly basis, win the unsaved to Christ and then plug them into a Sunday school class where they can grow. The pulpit must cry aloud with biblical principles of spiritual health so \PI\ \PM aW]VO WVM[ QV \PM 4WZL PI^M I ÅZU NW]VLI\QWV WV _PQKP \W J]QTL \PMQZ TQ^M[ 7]Z VI\QWV Q[ dependent upon this. President Trump will do his part; now, it is time for local churches to do their part. Together, we can salvage this nation for a few more generations. There is no time like the present to do the things that, over time, will turn our nation back to God.

Letters

Editors’

Bob Gray, Sr. Editor-in-Chief

Since we began printing The Baptist Magazine, it has been exciting to hear the comments and encouragement from our subscribers. This magazine is truly unlike any other. The combination of timeless content, eye-catching design, and impeccable quality enable biblical truths to be conveyed to our readers. While this is just our third issue including the bonus issue, I am curious about the thoughts of our readers. I would like to hear from you. Email me at baptistmagazineonline@gmail.com or write to me at 7268 Exline Road, Jacksonville, Florida, 32222. If you are enjoying the magazine, perhaps you would consider subscribing for a friend or family member. You can do this at our website, www. thebaptistonline.com. In the next issue, we will have articles from a couple of new contributors. I am very enthusiastic about more people getting involved with the publication of each issue. Let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.

Greg Neal Managing Editor

Follow our editors on Twitter

Bob Gray: @BobGraySr

Greg Neal: @PastorGregNeal

Issue 3 July/August 2017

What We’re Reading God’s Forever Word

Passion for Souls

By 2M‫ ٺ‬.IZVPIU

By Bob Gray, Sr.

In an unsettled world, there is an urgent need for something that has been settled from eternity past and will be settled until eternity future. The Word of God will ﬁll this need and give us a sturdy foundation on which we can stand in full conﬁdence. God’s Forever Word sounds a certain note on this issue. With the constant push by today’s publishers to print yet another “version” of the Bible, Dr. Farnham examines both the motives of this phenomenon and also its inevitable consequences. Rather than being an evolving human document subject to the editions and deletions of man’s current understanding, the truth of God has been handed down to us by “inspiration” (II Tim. 3:16) and by “preservation” (Ps. 12:6-7) so that men in every generation may hold the Word of God in their hands. Available at www.swordofthelord.com

4 The Baptist Magazine

A book about having a passion for souls — A must read for every Bible-believing Christian Dr. John N. Hamblin said about this book, “Here is a principled fundamentalist, powerful preacher, published author, and proﬁcient soulwinner, who not only has led tens of thousands to Christ but also has trained and tutored tens of thousands of personal soulwinners. This bound volume contains the drive, desire, duty, determination, and demeanor of one, without question, of the most successful personal soulwinners of our day. Study this book, soak up its contents, and be ready to be stirred up by the words from one whose soul truly carries with it 24/7…A Passion for Souls!”

Available at www.bereanpublications.com

Signing Their Rights Away By Denise Kiernan & Joseph D’Agnese Signing Their Rights Away chronicles a moment in American history when our elected officials knew how to compromise and to put aside personal gain for the greater good of the nation. These men were just as quirky and flawed as the elected officials we have today: Hugh Williamson believed in aliens, Robert Morris went to prison, Jonathan Dayton stole $18,000 from Congress, and Thomas Mifflin was ruined by alcohol. Yet, somehow, these imperfect men managed to craft the world’s most perfect Constitution. With thirtynine mini-biographies and a reversible dust jacket that unfolds into a poster of the original document, Signing Their Rights Away offers an entertaining and enlightening narrative for history buffs of all ages. Available at www.quirkbooks.com

His Hand Is Real Events and stories clearly showing the hand of God The Life and Ministry of Dr. Mickey Carter By Mickey Carter For nearly ﬁve decades, members of Landmark Baptist Church have enjoyed the great stories Dr. Mickey Carter has told from the pulpit. These stories tell of insurmountable circumstances and of how the Lord has shown His hand and answered prayer. Sometimes these stories are humorous, yet they are always thought-provoking. God is real and has shown Himself real over and over again. God is not interested in our stellar performance but in our hearts. He loves our willingness and obedience despite our insecurities. Available from Landmark Baptist Press lfbc@landmarklfbc.com

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Islam: A Raging Storm

By Greg Neal

By ;PMT\WV ;UQ\P

If the disciples experienced dark times and storms of life, then, no doubt, we will too! Row, Row, Row Your Boat gives some observations and lessons that we can learn while going through a storm. Just as the disciples kept rowing the boat until Jesus came, we must keep on rowing as well. Eventually, we will look over the bow to the horizon and will see a ﬁgure walking on the water. Then, we will hear Christ say, It is I; be not afraid; and we will be reminded that everything will be all right.

Although Islam had already attained a position of dominance in several dozen countries in other parts of the world, and even though the Islamic presence had become more noticeable in America in recent years, it was on September 11, 2001, that the attention of our nation was ﬁrst riveted on Islam. On that day, Islamic invaders attacked America, killing thousands of innocent people professedly in the name of Islam.

The observations found in this pamphlet are: Observation #1: Even the disciples of Jesus Christ found themselves in a storm. Observation #2: No obstacles could keep Jesus from reaching His disciples while they were in the storm. Observation #3: We will never experience a storm where Jesus is not present. Available at www.bereanpublications.com

In Islam: A Raging Storm, Dr. Shelton Smith examines the religion, its history, its philosophy, its teaching, and its practices. In a thoroughly analytical exposé, Dr. Smith carefully documents the issues with Islam facing our world. With a strongly Scriptural perspective, the contrast between Islam and Christianity is proclaimed clearly and uncompromisingly. Available at www.swordofthelord.com

A look at some of the books the staff of The Baptist have been reading lately Issue 3 July/August 2017

True Patriotism The Faith of Our Fathers by

n January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy made this famous statement in his Inaugural Address: “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for aW]Z KW]V\Za º <PM \Z]\P QV \PI\ [\I\MUMV\ Q[ I Å ZM \PI\ VMML[ \W JM ][ML \W ZMQOVQ\M the smoldering spirits of the citizens in our country. Sadly, many Americans mistakenly believe \PI\ KPIV\QVO ¹=;) =;) =;) º Q[ I [QOV WN patriotism. Yet, today, much of our patriotism is not based upon its true meaning. True patriotism is putting our country ahead of ourselves. It is allowing our best interests as individuals to become subservient to the best interests of our nation as a whole. The word XI\ZQW\Q[U comes from the root word patriot, which is derived from the Latin

6 The Baptist Magazine

Greg Neal Managing Editor

word pater UMIVQVO ¹NI\PMZ º 1V \PM X]ZM[\ sense of the word, a patriot is one who holds respect for his nation based upon the principles which were founded by its forefathers. To honor one’s country is to honor its fathers. Thus, patriotism originates from a scriptural principle found in Exodus 20:12, 0WVW]Z \Pa NI\PMZ IVL \Pa UW\PMZ" \PI\ \Pa LIa[ UIa be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Notice that length of days is attached to a promise in regard to one’s land. The Bible does not say we will have long days. It says that our days will be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. What is honor? To honor is to place in high esteem. We see the word used in Romans 12:10, …in honour preferring one another. Honor gives preferential treatment to its object. It is doing what is best for the land given to us by

our fathers, rather than what is best for us. That is how we honor them. Patriotism seeks to do what is best for our country based upon honoring our forefathers. A patriot is one who is loyal to that which his father provided for him rather than one who is entitled because of what the father has given him. In many ways, America has become a prodigal nation because we have turned from the faith of our fathers and have taken what we feel is best for us. Americans have become more interested in the rights we have as Americans than in the responsibility we have to honor our fathers. Patriotism is not cheering on our Olympic teams to win the most medals. It is cheering on our nation to maintain that which our forefathers have given us. America has been blessed for generations because of true patriotism. As long as we honor what our fathers have given us, we are promised long days in our land. Unfortunately, many Americans have become critical of our forefathers, even demeaning them and seeking fault. We think we are being patriotic, yet true patriotism is built upon honor and honor is built upon gratitude. Colin Kaepernick kneels in protest during the

National Anthem and is applauded by a liberal press. Yet, many of these same people cheer when the National Anthem is played after the United States has competed against another country in sports and won. They enjoy the spoils of being an American, but they are not as interested in the responsibilities of being an )UMZQKIV <PM )UMZQKIV Ă&#x2020; IO _I[ OQ^MV \W ][ Ja W]Z forefathers. To dishonor it is to dishonor them. Today, most Americans do not ask what they can do for their country. Most ask what their country can do for them or even, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What has it done for me TI\MTa'Âş 7VM of the signs of a lack of patriotism is a lack of gratitude. A lack of gratitude is the result of not recognizing the abundance of blessings we have been granted by being born in this great nation, paid for by our fathers. Let me give an example. A child is born into a good family where he is cared for, provided for, loved, and taught in a non-abusive and healthy environment. The child grows older and does not like something his parents do. Forgetting all the blessings of his entire childhood, he becomes critical and even bitter toward his parents. He proudly carries their name, but he refuses to show responsibility or gratitude Issue 3 July/August 2017

for all of the blessings he has enjoyed having been born into that family. He is dishonoring his parents by his lack of gratitude. That is exactly what has happened in America. People born in a country which has W‫ ٺ‬MZML \PMU \PM OZMI\M[\ WN WXXWZ\]VQ\QM[ still have their hands out, becoming critical because they are not getting enough. These [IUM XMWXTM _QTT KPIV\ ¹=;) =;) =;) º at a sporting event. It is not because they are patriotic but because winning makes them feel good. Let me explain what patriotism is not. Patriotism is not entitlement. We are privileged to be born in this country, but we are not entitled. We could easily have been born in a nation without freedom, under a ruthless

ABOVE Boston, MA - December 8, 1941. Volunteers line up at a Naval recruitment office one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

dictator. The feeling of entitlement leads to child-like behavior. Just like a spoiled child who throws a tantrum when he does not get his way, entitled Americans riot in the streets when they do not get their way. As Americans, we should be humbled because of the opportunities we have been given by our fathers. Patriotism is not a feeling. We should be grateful to be Americans, even when we do not feel good about our country. Loyalty is not based upon feelings. It is based upon having character and gratitude, even when we do not feel good. What we always should feel good about is honoring those who gave us this land. Patriotism is not agreement. People

8 The Baptist Magazine

make mistakes thinking this way. When they do not agree with things in the country, they feel they have the right to become disloyal and hateful. I do not always agree with what is going on in this country, but I remain loyal to my country because it is where God placed me and because I am indebted to my fathers. Patriotism is not pride. Sometimes I am ashamed of things that take place in this nation. There are times when I grieve at the direction we have taken; however, I am loyal to this nation because I have a responsibility to be the light in this dark world. One way we do so is by honoring our fathers. God blesses that. So, exactly what is patriotism? Webster LMÅ VM[ XI\ZQW\Q[U I[ ¹TW^M NWZ WZ LM^W\QWV \W WVM¼[ KW]V\Za º <PI\ Q[ VW\ I ¹NMMT OWWLº TW^M J]\ I TW^M of choice. I choose to love the United States of America, and I choose to be devoted to it. I do not live my life doing what is best for me but what is best for my country. Yet, in all of this, we should never lose sight of what our fathers did to make it all possible. Let me use another word that could be a synonym for patriotism. That word is faithfulness. Patriotism is being faithful to the heritage of our country in our deeds and actions. We are not placing our faithfulness to country above our faithfulness to God, but as a part of it. I am faithful to my wife within my faithfulness to God, and I am faithful to my country as a part of my faithfulness to God. That means… Ɣ I am faithful to defend my country. Ɣ I am faithful to pray for our leaders. Ɣ I am faithful to vote in every election. Ɣ I am faithful to be a good citizen. Ɣ I am faithful to be loyal to my leaders. What America needs is more patriots, individuals who are truly grateful for what our fathers have given us and who, in honor to them, give themselves to maintaining and protecting the values for which our fathers fought and died. We cannot claim to be loyal and patriotic Americans unless we honor those who made this nation great.

Does Radical Islam Really Exist? by

Chris Fox Associate Editor

Issue 3 July/August 2017

“No

BELOW Washington, DC February 18, 2015. Then President Barack Obama speaks at the White House Summit to Counter Violent Exremeism. LOWER RIGHT A protester outside the summit

religion is responsible for terrorism. People are responsible for violence and \MZZWZQ[U º <PQ[ Y]W\M Ja NWZUMZ 8ZM[QLMV\ Barack Obama at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism on February 18, 2015, is one of the explanations that he used to justify the fact that he refused \W ][M \PM _WZL[ ¹ZILQKIT 1[TIUQK \MZZWZQ[\[ º In that same speech he also stated, “They [terrorists] no more represent Islam than any madman who kills in the name of +PZQ[\QIVQ\a º ?PQTM W]Z NWZUMZ 8ZM[QLMV\ may not have agreed with the acts of violence carried out by these terrorists, he should have admitted that they have been indoctrinated with a belief system that causes them to take actions that lead to mayhem and death. When was the last time the latest breaking news story was about a Baptist preacher decapitating someone while shouting “Jehovah God is /ZMI\º' ?PMV PI^M _M ZMIL PMILTQVM[ QV \PM major newspapers about a Methodist layman donning a suicide vest in the local mall with the intent of blowing up himself and killing innocent people all around him? When has social media blown up over the news that a Presbyterian was driving a truck through a crowded street purposely trying to kill as

10 The Baptist Magazine

many people as he could before taking his own life? As this article is being written, the news is still fresh revealing details about a suicide bombing in Manchester, England, carried out by a Muslim terrorist. Twenty-two people were killed, many of whom were children, and scores of others injured. Is it a coincidence that almost every time one of these stories headlines the evening news that the person committing the act of violence claims to be a 5][TQU IVL Q[ PMIZL [PW]\QVO ¹)TTIP] )SJIZ º as he commits a horrible crime against humanity? Does it make more sense that the violence is ingrained into the minds of these madmen by the very tenets of the religion to which they belong? This religion is known as Islam. Whether we want to call those who ILPMZM \W \PQ[ ZMTQOQWV ¹ZILQKITº WZ ¹XMIKMN]T º \PM \Z]\P WN \PM UI\\MZ Q[ \PI\ \PM ¹PWTaº JWWS which all of them revere, The Qur’an (also KITTML <PM 3WZIV Q[ ÅTTML _Q\P PI\M IOIQV[\ all those who reject their religion. Many people, especially in the Western world, are trying to justify Islam by stating \PI\ \PM ^MZa VIUM UMIV[ ¹XMIKM#º PW_M^MZ this could not be further from the truth. Any Arabic language dictionary will clearly reveal \PI\ 1[TIU IK\]ITTa UMIV[ ¹[]JUQ[[QWVº WZ ¹\W []JUQ\ º <PQ[ LWM[ VW\ VMKM[[IZQTa UMIV \PI\

every person who claims to be a Muslim wants to kill every westerner who denies Islam (as the Qur’an teaches). What it does reveal is that, although they may claim to be Muslim, they ZMITTa LW VW\ SVW_ _PI\ \PMQZ ¹PWTaº JWWS teaches. Someone commented to me the other day, “Many who claim to be Muslim don’t read the Qur’an just as many who claim to be +PZQ[\QIV LWV¼\ ZMIL \PM *QJTM º 1\ Q[ []ZXZQ[QVO PW_ UIVa ¹+PZQ[\QIV[º KW]TL VW\ \MTT \PM TI[\ time they actually read any portion of the *QJTM IVL PW_ UIVa [W KITTML ¹+PZQ[\QIV[º participate in things that go completely against what the Word of God teaches. Islam, from its conception, always has had relationships based on terror. Muhammad (the founder of Islam) claimed to have visions from the angel Gabriel. Often he would have seizures and fall into trances. As he would regain consciousness, he would summarize his ¹M`XMZQMVKM º <PM[M []UUIZQM[ _MZM ZMKQ\ML and recorded, giving birth to the Muslim ¹PWTaº JWWS 7VM []KP ZM^MTI\QWV _I[ \PI\ \PM spoils and captives from military conquests would belong to Muslim soldiers who took part in any invasions that advanced Allah. Even in times of his country’s traditional month of peace, Muhammed and his followers plundered traveling caravans, in order to take spoils from innocent victims. Finding success in terrorizing others in order to fuel his own [MTÅ[P LM[QZM[ 5]PIUUIL LMKTIZML Jihad, WZ ¹PWTa _IZ º as a basic tenet of the faith he was still developing. As Islam grew, so did

Jihad. This belief system is what allowed the followers of Islam to establish a military force so powerful that it began to conquer other nations. For one hundred years after the death of Muhammad, Islam’s military might, fueled by religious zeal, began sweeping across the Middle East. As they conquered nations, they imposed Islamic rule. No other views were tolerated. Islam has never been tolerant of any other religion. The followers of Islam have always forced their religion on all nations they conquered. In Psalms 33:12 the Bible states, Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;… America is blessed because her founders recognized the need for God’s guidance in establishing this great nation. After many years, we once again have a President who acknowledges God and is friendly toward Christians. This was not the case during the previous administration. As a matter of fact, the Muslims were treated better than Christians during President Obama’s tenure. There is much debate on whether or not he is a Muslim; however, it cannot be ZMN]\ML \PI\ PM _I[ LMÅVQ\MTa NZQMVLTQMZ \W Islam and its tenets than to Christianity and Bible truth. It is no coincidence that America’s principles and morals declined sharply in the last eight years. <PM ÅN\a UWLMZV 5][TQU VI\QWV[ IZM not full of happy, joyous people. They are an oppressed people. The nations are war torn. Sharia Law is one of fear. Women are often treated as a piece of property with no rights,

ABOVE Mecca, Saudi Arabia June 28, 2014. Muslim pilgrims from all over the world gathered to perform Umrah or Hajj at the Haram mosque.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

ABOVE London, England - May 6, 2011. Muslim protesters march toward the United States Embassy.

instead of respectable human beings. The sanctity of marriage, as God established it, is not honored and revered. Marriages, many times, are either arranged or forced. In cases of divorce, the husband is always favored over the wife. Muhammad himself had eleven wives; the youngest was a mere six years old. Muhammad consummated the marriage to the child when she turned nineâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Muhammad was Ă&#x2026;N\a \PZMM 1[TIU IT_Ia[ PI[ JMMV I ZMTQOQWV WN conquering, perversion, oppression, and fear. When Jehovah God is not recognized as the God of a nation, there is no blessing on the land or the people. The Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an promotes violence toward VWV JMTQM^MZ[ WZ ÂšQVĂ&#x2026;LMT[ Âş <PM[M ÂšQVĂ&#x2026;LMT[Âş IZM LMĂ&#x2026;VML I[ \PW[M _PW LW VW\ ZMKWOVQbM \PI\ Allah is supreme and who do not consider Muhammad as Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s messenger. There are more than one hundred verses that call Muslims to war for the sake of Islamic rule against those who do not follow Islam. Some of these are quite graphic. The Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an states in Surah 2:191, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are _WZ[M \PIV [TI]OP\MZÂ°QN \PMa Ă&#x2026;OP\ aW] [TIa

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them. Such is the reward of those who suppress NIQ\P Âş 6W\QKM IT[W ;]ZIP " Âš4M\ \PW[M Ă&#x2026;OP\ in the cause of God Who sell the life of this _WZTL NWZ \PM PMZMIN\MZ <W PQU _PW Ă&#x2026;OP\M\P QV the cause of God, â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether he is slain or gets victory â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Soon shall We give him a reward of OZMI\ ^IT]M Âş +TMIZTa \PQ[ ^MZ[M Q[ ][ML I[ \PM theological base for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suicide bombers. In ILLQ\QWV \W \PQ[ ÂšZM_IZL WN OZMI\ ^IT]M Âş \PMZM is also the promise of immediate entrance into paradise, a promise of seventy-two virgins waiting in paradise, and the promise that the martyr could be the intercessor for up to seventy family members to enter into paradise. The Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an also instills violence into the hearts of its readers in Surah 8:12-13 which [Ia[ ÂšÂ°1 IU _Q\P aW]" OQ^M Ă&#x2026;ZUVM[[ \W \PM Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and [UQ\M ITT \PMQZ Ă&#x2026;VOMZ \QX[ Wâ&#x20AC;Ť\ Ůşâ&#x20AC;ŹPMU <PQ[ JMKI][M they contended against God and His Apostle: If any contend against God and His Apostle, /WL Q[ [\ZQK\ QV X]VQ[PUMV\ Âş 1\ KWV\QV]M[ QV ^MZ[M ! Âš)VL Ă&#x2026;OP\ \PMU WV ]V\QT \PMZM is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily God doth

[MM ITT \PI\ \PMa LW º <PM[M ^MZ[M[ PI^M JMMV ][ML \W R][\QNa \PM PWZZQÅK JMPMILQVO[ \PI\ PI^M JMMV KIZZQML W]\ M^MV QV ZMKMV\ years, by Muslims. Time and space do not allow the citation of all 109 verses that teach Muslims how to deal with non-believers. According to Islam’s holy book, basically, a person either converts to Islam or dies. There is no tolerance. Remember, this is the same JWWS \PI\ )44 5][TQU[ ZM^MZM IVL KITT ¹PWTa º ?PI\ XMWXTM fail to realize is that the Qur’an is not the only book to which Muslims adhere. There is also the Hadith, or Sunna, which are the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad. The Hadith is held in the same exalted position as the Qur’an. Where the 9]Z¼IV Q[ []XXW[MLTa ¹\P][ [IQ\P )TTIP º \PM 0ILQ\P Q[ ¹\P][ [IQ\P 5]PIUUIL º <PM 0ILQ\P LM[KZQJM[ QV UWZM LM\IQT IVL explains the commands given in the Qur’an. A Muslim who denies the Hadith is comparable to a Christian who denies the New Testament. A Muslim apologist may try to explain away something in the Qur’an; however, the Hadith sheds light on the command which cannot be denied. There is only one goal of Islam. It is to advance only Allah’s glory as the supreme god by Jihad; ÅZ[\ Ja QV^Q\I\QWV \PMV Ja _IZ ]V\QT ITT _PW IZM TMN\ will declare, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is PQ[ UM[[MVOMZ º There is not a separate set of beliefs for those who claim \W JM ¹UWLMZI\Mº WZ ¹XMIKMN]Tº 5][TQU[ IVL \PW[M _PW IZM KITTML ¹ZILQKITº 5][TQU[ <PM NIK\ Q[ \PI\ ALL who claim to be Muslim and follow the teachings of Islam get their teachings from the same two books. The Islamic faith is one that denies Jehovah God as the one and only true God. It not only denies that fact but also places Allah above God. It denies the deity of Jesus Christ. It teaches that Jesus was just a good prophet, but one day he will bow down to their coming messiah – The Mahdi. It teaches that a person can work his way into heaven and even intercede for family members to enter into heaven based on his works. Islam is a religion based on terror, fear, and conquering. If a true Muslim is not actively forcing others to Islam, then he is just waiting for the right time. A term that is misused often by western media reporters is the Arabic word hudna <PM [PWZ\ LMÅVQ\QWV NWZ \PQ[ _WZL Q[ I ¹\Z]KMº WZ ¹KMI[M ÅZM º 6WV )ZIJQK RW]ZVITQ[\[ will often employ this word to report a peace treaty; however, the history of this particular word shades its meaning. The most famous hudna was the Treaty of Hudaybiyya between Muhammad and the Quraysh TOP Paris, France - April 20, 2017. Police secure the ChampsÉlysées Avenue after a terrorist shooting. MIDDLE London, England - March 18, 2017. Newspaper headlines describe the events of a terrorist attack the previous day. BOTTOM London, England - March 17, 2017. A woman tends to a man injured during a terrorist attack on the Westminster Bridge.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

14 The Baptist Magazine

A rebel wearing a chequered keffiyeh and a headband that reads in Arabic: “There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is his messenger” ﬂashes the V-sign for victory.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

BELOW Washington, DC September 13, 1993. Then President Bill Clinton oversees the signing of the Oslo Peace Accord between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Tribe. Muhammad signed a truce with the rulers of Mecca (who had not yet converted to Islam) allowing him and his men to travel unarmed to Mecca on a pilgrimage. This treaty was to last ten years. After only two years, Muhammad conquered it. Since then, hudna has been known as a temporary truce. An ex-Muslim terrorist said, “In the Muslim mind, hudna is an Arabic term for a truce meant to produce a period of calm with an enemy in order to gain concessions, regroup, ZMIZU IVL ZM I\\IKS I\ \PM IXXZWXZQI\M \QUM º Muslims have been following Muhammad’s example of false treaties ever since. A more recent example was the Oslo Peace Accord in 1993, a peace treaty between Palestine and Israel, approved by Yasser Arafat. Less than one year after the peace agreement was signed, Arafat was secretly recorded in a closed-door address at a Johannesburg mosque saying that the accords were merely a way to facilitate his jihad against Israel. Other examples are all WN \PM KMI[M Å ZM[ \PI\ 0IUI[ PI[ IOZMML \W between 1993 and 2003, none of which were PWVWZML )TT WN \PM[M W‫ ٺ‬MZ[ _MZM UMZM \IK\QKIT maneuvers giving militant groups time to live \W Å OP\ IVW\PMZ LIa =VLMZ[\IVL \PI\ \PMZM IZM LQ‫ ٺ‬MZMV\ [\IOM[ WN jihad. The idea of Islam

16 The Baptist Magazine

being a peaceful religion is nothing more than the silent stage of jihad. Where the Muslims are in majority, they will conquer. Where they are the minority, they will dwell peacefully, even make false treaties, until they are strong enough to conquer. When the time is right, then they will strike. Do not be deceived. Islam is not a religion of peace but a religion of submission. Many Muslims are so indoctrinated by their religion that they cannot see the truth. <PMZM Q[ VW LQ[\QVK\QWV JM\_MMV ¹ZILQKITº 1[TIU WZ ¹UWLMZI\Mº 1[TIU <PM JMTQMN \PI\ WVTa I [UITT XMZKMV\IOM WN 5][TQU[ IZM ¹ZILQKITº Q[ just a myth. The truth of the matter is that the \MZU ¹ZILQKIT 1[TIUº Q\[MTN Q[ I Ua\P <PMZM Q[ VW ¹ZILQKIT 1[TIU º WZ ¹UWLMZI\M 1[TIU º WZ ¹XMIKMN]T 1[TIU º <PMZM Q[ R][\ 1[TIU 1[TIU Ja its very nature is radical. Those who carry out PMQVW][ IK\[ WN ^QWTMVKM IOIQV[\ ¹QVÅ LMT[º IZM merely obeying the laws and commands that are taught to ALL Muslims. Contrary to what our former President said, they do represent Islam. Their deeds line up with their belief system. May we do all that is in our power to get the message of salvation to those who have been blinded by this false religion. Let us not allow their zeal for a false religion to be stronger than our zeal for Jesus Christ!

Independent Is More Than a Name Bob Gray, Sr. Editor-in-Chief

o some of us, independence is not a moniker on our letterhead; it is a position in our hearts. It is more than a convenient title, and, most WN\MV KWUM[ NZWU IV QVKWV^MVQMV\ [\IVL WZ Å OP\ 1\ is more than just aligning ourselves with others who call themselves independent. It is getting out of line with those who are blindly allowing themselves to be imprisoned by a group or institution. It is important to understand that those who preceded us were not independent for the sake of independence. They were independent for principle’s sake. Insecure men often are independent as a show of strength, a sign of their own insecurity. Our mentors were independent as a byproduct of principle. They had no headquarters but Heaven, no rulebook but the Bible, and no commander but the Lord. They did not go to college to have an alma mater but to gain tools for their toolbox. While having an alma mater was nice, it did not guarantee them security. Our independent mentors did not purposely alienate themselves rather purposely aligned themselves, which often left them alienated. As a result, they were alienated from error and compromise of their day. In reality, many of these men did not separate themselves from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). It separated from them because they refused to take orders or to support the Cooperative Program of the SBC. There was no individual who founded the independent Baptist movement. They found each other by simply being independent. As a result, a movement was born. None of them organized a movement, but they did seek to mobilize an army who were committed

to a common cause. None of them fought to be the TMILMZ J]\ \PMa JMKIUM Å MTL OMVMZIT[ \W \PW[M _PW believed and stood for the same cause. They did not seek to free others from the bondage of their denomination only to enslave them into the bondage of another ¹NMTTW_[PQX º <PMa LQL VW\ [\IZ\ KWVNMZMVKM[ \W M`MZKQ[M KWV\ZWT WZ \W KWMZKM J]\ \W QVÆ ]MVKM IVL QV[XQZM America is an independent nation, and our OZMI\VM[[ TQM[ QV \PI\ ^MZa NIK\ ¹)UMZQKI .QZ[\º Q[ VW\ R][\ I KIUXIQOV [TWOIV 7]Z LQ‫ ٺ‬MZMVKM[ IZM _PI\ UISM us unique and special among all nations in the world. While we are a part of the United Nations, it has always been our independence that has set us apart from other nations. At one point in time, we sought to use the United 6I\QWV[ I[ I UMIV[ \W QVÆ ]MVKM W\PMZ VI\QWV[ IZW]VL the world. Sadly, we have allowed ourselves to be QVÆ ]MVKML Ja \PM =VQ\ML 6I\QWV[ _PQTM [MMSQVO \PMQZ approval and permission to do what we know is right. America was the principled, renegade nation of the world rather than merely a cooperator with thugs and tyrants. The heritage of independence which we enjoy today was not a defection of a group from a group. No, it was built one principled soldier at a time. One by one, they arrived, wounded by rejection yet empowered by the passion of their cause. They were not defectors. They were survivors. They did not set out to start a social movement but to be a part of an elite, principled army. They ended up spreading across this nation, building a new wave of great soulwinning churches. Sadly, the movement became a monument. Today, there seems to be a trend to ostracize those who are truly independent by principle, not in name only. Let those of us who live by principle continue to embrace our heritage no matter the cost. ABOVE The United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland, is dedicated to bringing all nations together to work in the combined best interest of the world.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

Out of the Darkness & into the Light An Atheistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey from Unbelief to the Pastorate by Jeff Farnham 18 The Baptist Magazine

y father Carroll Farnham (known as Jim) was the second of only two sons born to a ne’er-do-well, alcoholic father and a strictly devoted Methodist mother. His KPQTLPWWL _I[ UILM LQ‫ٻ‬K]T\ Ja \PM XW^MZ\a of his father’s sloth and wastefulness as well as by the rigor of the northern Vermont climate and the accompanying hard labor of dairy farming. He was highly intelligent, graduating PQOP [KPWWT R][\ WVM _MMS [Pa WN PQ[ ÅN\MMV\P birthday in 1930, having mastered pre-college level chemistry, physics, Latin, and English. After my father’s graduation, my grandfather turned the farm operations over to him, burdening my father with the responsibility of supporting both his parents and threatening him that they would starve if he did not manage the farm. My father’s dreams of college and improving his status were dashed; and while he became a hardworking, honest dairy farmer, he also became an embittered and cynical man. Whatever faith he had from his childhood in the Methodist church with his mother was never manifested in my memory. My father communicated crippling despair, blasphemous unbelief, and hearty disapproval throughout my childhood. My mother Carol Farnham (known as ¹,QKSQMº _I[ I PQOP JWZV 2M_Q[P [WKQM\a OQZT from Manhattan whose childhood among the wealth and culture of the roaring twenties left her disenchanted with the hypocrisy of the rich and famous. Born with dyslexia, she experienced much ridicule in a family known for fame and intelligence. Beyond that, her parents divorced when she was young, leaving her yet more vulnerable to jeers from classmates in a time when divorce was unpopular and disdained. The combination of these and other factors created a rebellious independence apart from God that caused PMZ \W ÆMM 6M_ AWZS I\ \PM IOM WN [Q`\MMV ;PM [M\\TML QV 8TIQVÅMTL >MZUWV\ _PMZM [PM UM\ my father’s brother and hired out as a farm worker in the early World War II years when many of the men were either in Europe or the 8IKQÅK <PZW]OP Ua ]VKTM [PM UM\ Ua NI\PMZ# and they married in 1952. I was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on October 12, 1957, the second of three sons of Jim and Carol Farnham. I have a brother four years older and a brother four and one-

half years younger. I grew up on the family NIZU QV 8TIQVÅMTL ?PQTM Ua OMVMZI\QWV WN classmates was experimenting with marijuana, LSD, free sex, and all the other soul-destroying activities of the moral revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, I was baling hay, pitching silage, milking cows, shoveling manure, and cutting wood. To say we never played would be only a slight exaggeration; my father did not believe in having fun when there was work to do, and any person familiar with farming knows there is always work to do on a farm. My soul was bankrupt all through my childhood. For the reasons already stated regarding my parents’ faithless approach to life; and for other reasons I do not fully understand, we never attended a church service of any kind and never had a Bible in our house. The only Bible I ever saw was the one my Methodist grandmother owned and kept in plain view on PMZ KW‫ٺ‬MM \IJTM VMIZ PMZ NI^WZQ\M KPIQZ 1 PI^M reason to believe she read it often and prayed NWZ PMZ OZIVL[WV[ \W ÅVL NIQ\P M^MV \PW]OP Ua parents forbade her speaking to us about God in any context. I also have reason to believe my eventual coming to Jesus Christ was the result of her prayers for me. The spiritual starvation of my soul gave ample opportunity for the Devil to plant rebellion into my life. The anti-God sentiment of my father and the agnostic belief system of my mother provided guidance toward truth. As I entered my adolescence, my rebellion increased exponentially. With the growth of rebellion came an ominous and obvious emptiness to my life. 7V \PM ÅZ[\ LIa WN Ua R]VQWZ aMIZ QV PQOP school, I met the new girl in town. I say the new girl because there was only one. I was immediately drawn to her, not only because she was outwardly attractive but also because she had an inward quality I had never seen. I [WWV NW]VL W]\ [PM ¹PIL 2M[][ I[ PMZ ;I^QW]Z º Saved in a bus ministry in a town hundreds of miles away, she and her family had settled in our town because of her father’s military transfer. Interestingly, he was transferred to Plattsburgh Air Force Base in Plattsburgh, New AWZS [WUM ÅN\a XT][ UQTM[ I_Ia 1 JMTQM^M \PMQZ move to our town was for one reason: that I might hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved. Throughout my junior year, she kept insisting that I needed to “let God handle

PREVIOUS PAGE Jeff Farnham’s high school senior portrait from 1975

Issue 3 July/August 2017

Ua XZWJTMU[º IVL ¹IKKMX\ 2M[][ I[ Ua ;I^QW]Z º Such vocabulary, totally foreign to my completely atheistic mind, brought out my big guns of ridicule. I mocked her, all the while knowing in some unexplored recess of my shriveled soul that what she said had merit. Unfazed by my unbelief and sometimes cruel words, she continued to witness to me. As a gas gauge needle slowly moves from . to E on a road trip, so the needle registering my acceptance of God slowly and steadily moved from outright rejection to admission of possibility. All during my junior year, we talked. Throughout that year, I listened to the simple faith of this young woman. For two semesters, I humored her, then questioned her, then believed her. Cataloguing the events of the summer between my R]VQWZ IVL [MVQWZ aMIZ _W]TL JM \MLQW][# []‫ٻ‬KM Q\ \W say that during that summer, my hours of farm labor, ITWVM QV \PM ÅMTL[ IVL JIZV[ QV^WT^ML I UMV\IT LMJI\M that moved me from thinking there might be a God to believing He truly must exist. All this was happening with extremely little contact with the Christian witness BELOW Jeff Farnham and his eventual wife, Kathryn Pope at the 1979 Tennessee Temple Valentine’s Banquet.

20 The Baptist Magazine

who had moved to our community. Summer work on a dairy farm is characterized by long hours and short JZMIS[ <PM \_QKM LIQTa UQTSQVO[ [QTW ÅTTQVO PIa baling, and the myriad other demands of a dairy herd numbering over eighty left almost no recreation time. However, the absence of the Christian witness did not mean the absence of Christ’s witness, the Holy Spirit. That summer, the Spirit of God brought me to repeated, unabating, and increasing conviction. Indeed, the great God of Heaven was drawing me to 0QU[MTN W‫ٺ‬MZQVO UM ZMXMV\IVKM 1 KW]TL VM^MZ PI^M produced on my own, turning my unbelieving heart toward Him. One moment I was resisting; the next, I was giving in. One moment I was doubting; the next, I was wondering. One moment I was fearing; the next, 1 _I[ PWXQVO 7VM [XMKQÅK UMUWZa Q[ WN IV MIZTa morning on the tractor on the northeast corner of our farm property where I stopped the tractor, looked heavenward, and prayed something like, “God, if You IZM \PMZM 1 _IV\ \W SVW_ AW] º Our gracious and merciful Saviour answered that prayer. On the evening of October 25 of that year, I called upon Jesus Christ to save me, fully believing He died for my sins and would forgive me. The very next morning, having never read a Bible or attended a church service in my life, I awoke with one overpowering thought in my mind: My life was under new management. It was a Saturday morning, and I announced to my parents at breakfast that I was going to church the next morning. <PM ÅZM[\WZU \PI\ MZ]X\ML QV W]Z PW][M W^MZ Ua conversion was both unpleasant and uninteresting. A baby in the faith, I insisted on pursuing my church attendance and Bible-reading and praying; but I did it with the humanistic and rebellious attitude that had characterized my life up to that point. Arguments became the rule of the day, hindering the witness I so much wanted to have. <W W‫[ٺ‬M\ \PM QOVWZIVKM WN Ua JIJa +PZQ[\QIV bMIT God gave me light on three dynamically important issues. Right away, I became concerned about the ¹*QJTMº 1 PIL JMMV OQ^MV 1\ _I[ KITTML The Way, truly no translation of Scripture at all. Again, it must be remembered that I had no Bible or church training, but 1 JMKIUM LQ[\]ZJML IJW]\ \PQ[ ¹*QJTM º 1 UMV\QWVML Ua concerns to my older brother, and he assured me he would buy me a Bible the next time he went to town. 0M LQL 1\ _I[ I 3QVO 2IUM[ *QJTM 1 WXMVML Q\ \PM ÅZ[\ day I received it and began at Genesis 1:1. As soon as 1 ZMIL \PM WXMVQVO ^MZ[M[ WV \PI\ ÅZ[\ XIOM \PM ;XQZQ\ of God whispered His assurance to my soul that this was the Bible, the Word of God. While I did not then comprehend, nor did I fully understand for many years the importance of that awareness, I have never used any

W\PMZ ¹*QJTMº J]\ PI^M JMMV I 3QVO 2IUM[ UIV NZWU vaccinations). The second tragedy was the obliteration that day. of her mother’s side of the family in Austria under The second issue about which God gave me insight Hitler’s purge against the Jews during World War II. My was that, while my parents had their faults and had not M‫ٺ‬WZ\[ \W \M[\QNa \W PMZ WN I /WL WN TW^M NMTT ]XWV MIZ[ given me a Christian heritage, I was to honor them. she had long ago closed to any such message. Regardless of what I saw as their injustices in dealing My visit to southern California became more than a with me, their criticisms of my newfound faith, or visit. I temporarily settled there because, once again, the their emotional abuses during my childhood, I was to Spirit of God had led me. This time, His leading was honor them. Again, like the matter of Scripture, I did to a Baptist church where the truths of God were being not fully grasp all that meant, nor could I have proven preached and taught in a way that truly ministered to my position from Scripture because I did not know the my soul. This particular church was pastored at that Scripture. However, the Holy Spirit went to work on me time by Shelton Smith (current editor of the Sword of to change my behavior toward my parents regardless of the Lord). He and his wife Betty and the assistant pastor their behavior toward me. Dave Lawrence and his The third issue that wife Pat took me under God addressed in my their wings, treated me TQNM _I[ Ua ÅT\Pa UW]\P like one of their own, and wicked vocabulary. welcomed me to their All during my childhood houses, and taught me the and adolescence, I used \Z]\P[ WN /WL .WZ \PM ÅZ[\ the names of God and time since my conversion Jesus Christ as curse approximately a year words. I employed vulgar earlier, I became a churchterms, profane words, and attending believer. This blasphemous expressions is true in part because every day of my life to the little town in Vermont express anger, frustration, had no real church, irritation, and a host of and certainly no Bibleother unsavory feelings. believing, Bible-preaching During the early months of one. my Christian walk, again Although I had long without any Bible or church since chosen to pursue foundation, the Lord so medical research, once I clearly dealt with me that entered college, I found I stopped in the middle of I was losing interest. milking one night, went to In late January 1976, the sawdust bin behind the I approached Pastor milking stalls, and wept out Smith about this “sudden my prayer that God would KPIVOMº QV Ua aMIZVQVO[# clean up my mouth. To His he wisely asked me if I ABOVE Jeff Farnham at age 22, standing with his pastor at the glory, He answered that had ever prayed about time, Shelton Smith. prayer instantly, giving a God’s will for my life. My victory that still stands to this day. response was that I did not know what the phrase God’s I graduated in June of 1975, and in August of that will meant. He carefully explained it to me and indicated year, I drove to California as a guest of my maternal I ought to begin praying for God to make known to me grandmother who had moved there from New York His will for my life. I did just that. On April 4, 1976, in the 1950s. This trip was her high school graduation I went forward at the Sunday evening invitation, took present to me. Under her roof, I learned much about Pastor Smith’s hand, and told him God was calling my Jewish heritage. Prominent in this learning was me to preach. He looked at me with the twinkle so my grandmother’s explanation of two tragedies she characteristic of his countenance and said, “I knew that. had experienced which predisposed her to the agnostic 1 _IV\ML aW] \W SVW_ Q\ º belief system which she had passed on to my mother. Through another series of events, God opened <PM ÅZ[\ \ZIOMLa _I[ \PM LMI\P WN PMZ aW]VOMZ [Q[\MZ the door for me to visit Tennessee Temple Schools in due to a childhood disease (in the early 1900s before Chattanooga, Tennessee, in June of 1976. I toured Issue 3 July/August 2017

RIGHT Pastor Jeff Farnham inside the auditorium of Lagrange Baptist Church where he has pastored for the past nineteen years

the campus, visited some summer school classes, and went to chapel where I heard Evangelist Fred Brown speak from Acts 9:25 WV ¹<PM 5MV ?PW 0WTL \PM :WXM[ º .ZWU the moment I heard that sermon, I began to pray that God might open the door for me to receive my ministry training there. As the summer progressed, it seemed unlikely that I would be admitted at TTS, so I began exploring other options and was accepted at another well-known Christian college. Still, I sensed God wanted me to enroll at TTS, so I prayed that God would send my admittance letter to me by July 31. Indeed, as the Lord PIL ITZMILa _Q\VM[[ML \W UM QV [XMKQÅK _Ia[ in my short Christian life, He proved Himself real again. I received my letter of acceptance to TTS on Saturday, July 31. By the following Monday, I was on my way to Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the summer after my freshman year, I became intensely burdened to pray for a wife. When I returned to campus as a sophomore, I met Kathryn Pope during class registration and was instantly convinced God had answered my prayer. While there were no visions or goose bumps, the still, small voice of the Lord whispered in my ear, at the moment we met and introduced ourselves to each other, that she would be my wife. We courted for twenty-three months and were married on August 11, 1979. We took a one-semester break and resumed our college programs. Both of us graduated with bachelor’s degrees, mine in religious education in 1982 and hers in elementary education in 1983. The years at Tennessee Temple were formative because there the Holy Spirit ingrained into us not only our convictions but also our positions along with the Biblical foundations of reasons for those very positions and convictions. While neither one of us at that time could have passed an oral exam for a doctorate on most subjects, we

22 The Baptist Magazine

were both persuaded during our college years of the doctrinal and practical positions we still hold today. During our years at Tennessee Temple, we also developed our music position. Again, it was the pulpit of Highland Park Baptist Church that helped us understand the type of music that is the spiritual song. The choral groups, singing families, quartets, trios, duets, and soloists that sang in the church and college M`IT\ML \PM ;I^QW]Z Ja W‫ٺ‬MZQVO 0QU \PM XZIQ[M due His holy worthiness and by avoiding the [W]VL WN \PM _WZTL IVL \PM JMI\ WN \PM ÆM[P and the hiss of the serpent. God gave us children beginning in 1983 and every three years or so thereafter until !! Å^M QV ITT *ZILTMa 2MVVQNMZ *MVRIUQV Bethany, and Nathan began their lives as ¹XZMIKPMZ¼[ SQL[º I[ 3I\PZaV IVL 1 UW^ML

\PZW]OP I NM_ LQ‫ ٺ‬MZMV\ UQVQ[\ZQM[ WN \PM QV\MZV[PQX nature where I held such positions as Christian school principal, assistant pastor, and youth pastor. Finally, QV !! 1 I[[]UML Ua Å Z[\ [MVQWZ XI[\WZI\M I\ \PM Charleston Baptist Church in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. I held this post until 1994 when I took my family to Montague, Michigan, to Bible Baptist Church, another short-held position. In October 1998, we moved to LaGrange, Indiana, where I assumed the vacant pulpit of LaGrange Baptist Church, the position I hold to this day. Looking back, I can divide my Christian life into four decades. My twenties was the decade of grounding in which I learned the basics, latched onto the foundational truths of God’s Bible, and put together the pieces of my life broken by long-held attitudes of stubbornness and rebellion. I began to understand that my yearning to build a better home than the one from which I came was not an automatic result of being saved but rather a calculated result of walking with God. The decade of my thirties was the decade in which I was introduced to the reality of humanism. That may seem strange to some; but, up to that point, I was oblivious to it. The more I read about humanism, the more I came to realize that, while I was truly saved and was a Christian in my spiritual pursuits, I was a humanist in my mental processes. I still thought like the humanist I had been trained to be all during my childhood. I still made decisions based upon humanistic reasoning paradigms. God dealt _Q\P UM _Q\P TWVO[]‫ ٺ‬MZQVO QV \PQ[ UI\\MZ# J]\ UISM VW UQ[\ISM 0M LMIT\ _Q\P UM _Q\P Å ZUVM[[ I[ _MTT The Spirit of God began showing me through study of the Scriptures as well as prayer and meditation area after area where humanism needed to be uprooted. Foundational to my exercise in removing humanistic thinking and replacing it with Biblical thinking was Colossians 2:4-9. My forties were characterized by another analysis of my soul. The rebellion of my childhood had left ruts in my soul. During that ten-year period, marital issues, family issues, and church issues were the reallife tools of the Holy Spirit to illustrate to me that, while I was saved and serving, I still had a streak of rebellion within me that all too often raised its ugly head. Once again, the Lord worked in my life in a TWVO[]‫ ٺ‬MZQVO J]\ Å ZU UIVVMZ <PQ[ LMKILM _I[ \PM \QUM XMZQWL QV Ua TQNM _PMV 1 JMOIV \W [MM Å Z[\PIVL that my rebellion hurt others, indeed the others I loved and cherished most on this earth, my dear wife and Ua Å ^M JMI]\QN]T KPQTLZMV <PMV ITWVO KIUM \PM Å N\QM[ <PQ[ LMKILM Q[ IJW]\ to end for me. While it has been the most painful, it

has also been the most fruitful. Although it has been \PM UW[\ LQ‫ٻ‬ K]T\ Q\ PI[ JMMV \PM UW[\ JTM[[ML 1\ has been in this decade of life that I have learned to trust God as never before, to recognize His goodness ZMOIZLTM[[ WN TQNM¼[ KQZK]U[\IVKM[ \W Å VL QV 0QU IVL QV Him alone my comfort and healing and joy and hope. The spiritual impact of this last decade is profound upon the healing of my own soul as well as the healing of much damage that has accompanied my journey out of humanistic and rebellious thinking. 1\ Q[ IT[W QV Ua Å N\QM[ \PI\ /WL PI[ XZQ^QTMOML IVL called) me to write. Even though I began publishing the <Z]UXM\ WN <Z]\P, a bi-monthly sermon newspaper, QV !! 1 PIL VM^MZ _ZQ\\MV I JWWS <PM Å Z[\ JWWS <PM 7K\WX][ WN 0]UIVQ[U (2009) is the result of my journey out of that dead-end of mental exercise in my thirties and was the thesis paper for my Master of Theology. Rules That Rebels Live By (2011) and More Rules That Rebels Live By (2012) come out of my spiritual experiences with God in my forties. My fourth book /WL¼[ .WZM^MZ ?WZL (2014) is a twenty-year project. This book is a treatise on the inspiration and preservation of Scripture, and it served in part in my being granted an honorary doctorate in literature the [IUM aMIZ 5a Å N\P JWWS UnChristian Christianity (2017) is an exposé of neo-evangelicalism as it has morphed from its origin to its present state of spiritual decay. These last two books are my personal attempt at the bidding of the Lord to identify truth and to expose error on the two subjects addressed. Should the Lord not return and should He be pleased to give me life and strength, more books are in the near future. )VW\PMZ _WVLMZN]T JTM[[QVO WN Ua Å N\QM[ PI[ JMMV that even though I pastor a small country church the faithful God has opened the door for me to preach I NM_ ZM^Q^IT[ \W \ZIQV \PZMM ¹<QUW\Pa[ º \W \MIKP Christian college block classes, to speak at family and youth camps, and to engage in many opportunities where my knowledge of Scripture combined with my earthly sojourn experience allow me to help younger preachers and missionaries in real-life situations. As I look forward to my sixties (beginning October 12, 2017), I eagerly anticipate what God has in store for Kathryn and me. She has stood faithfully by my side in her role as an at-home wife and mother, as a home- schooling parent, as this pastor’s greatest KPMMZTMILMZ IVL []XXWZ\MZ I[ \PQ[ XZMIKPMZ¼[ Å Z[\ IVL most willing prayer partner, and now as a delightful companion and grandmother of our children’s children. We are happy empty nesters, and we are thrilled to be serving side-by-side in God’s vineyard. Our hope is that we may continue to be used as an older man and an older woman, helping to equip those who are coming behind us. Issue 3 July/August 2017

YOU WOULDN’T DARE FACE HIM UNARMED…

24 The Baptist Magazine

…ARM YOURSELF

Satan’s Toolbox, a brand new book from Berean Publications Visit www.SatansToolbox.com

Issue 3 July/August 2017

Bristol, United Kingdom - February 4, 2017. Protesters marching through the city to Protest US President Donald Trump’s visit and his so-called “Muslim Ban”

26 The Baptist Magazine

How the Resurrection of Christ Destroys Every Other Religion by Paul E. Chapman

Things that are different are not the same; therefore, all religions are not equal. The Religious Tolerance and Coexist movements are attempts to legitimize false religions. Usually, the people promoting these ideas want true believers to sit down and be quiet. They try to silence all mention of the preeminence of Christ, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. True followers of Christ cannot pretend that different religions are equal. Each religion teaches different principles, motivations, and values; but most importantly, each one teaches different ways to save the souls of men. All roads do not lead to Heaven. If there is only one way to get to Heaven as the Bible teaches, then the promotion of any other way to Heaven is a counterfeit. Jesus declares that He is the ONLY way to Heaven. (John 14:6) This makes true Christianity incompatible with every other religion. Most religions claim that Jesus Christ was a good man or prophet, but they deny that He is the Messiah. Either Jesus is the Saviour, or He is a liar. He proclaimed boldly that He was the Son of God sent from the Father to save mankind from their sin. The resurrection proved that Jesus is not only a good man and a prophet but also Lord and Christ! Matthew 27:62-66 says, Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. The Resurrection Promised The Pharisees were concerned about an empty tomb. They understood that if Jesus rose from the dead their credibility and

power would be destroyed. They knew that Jesus had promised to return from the dead after three days. He did not say that He hoped to rise again. He declared it as fact as only the Son of God could do. Matthew 16:21 - From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Matthew 17:22-23 - And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. Matthew 20:18-19 - Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. The Resurrection Prevented The Pharisees knew that belief in the resurrection of Christ would devastate Judaism and every other religion. They wanted to make sure that it was impossible for His body to be stolen. A watch of hardened Roman soldiers was placed at the tomb for security. Also, the large stone that covered the sepulcher was sealed. In their pride and unbelief, they didn’t realize the futility of their actions. The Resurrection Prevailed Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where Issue 3 July/August 2017

CENTER Luang Prabang, Laos. Buddhist monks cleaning a pagoda at the Xieng Thong Temple

the Lord lay. Up from the grave Christ arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! It was impossible for the grave to hold the Son of God. Life surrendered to death temporarily only to destroy it entirely by the resurrection of our Lord. The angel descended robbing the strength and courage of the Roman soldiers. This angel of light declared that Christ was risen as He said He would. Our Lord is no deceiver as the Pharisees claimed. Jesus Christ is Truth and Life! The Resurrection Proved Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: The Resurrection was God’s exclamation point on the deity of Jesus Christ. There can be no argument about Who Jesus is after He arose. The resurrection proved that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour! The resurrection proved that Jesus has power over death and can give us eternal life. Thus, the resurrection destroys every other religion. If Jesus Christ really rose from the dead, there can be no argument. If Christ arose, there is no discussion of religious preference; no longer do moral disputations matter. Mohammed is dead. Buddha is dead. There is no empty grave for Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, Paganism, Humanism, Spiritism, etc. Every other religion in the world is made obsolete by the resurrection of our

Lord Jesus Christ! Matthew 28:11-15 - Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is

The History of the Coexist Movement The Coexist Foundation began in 2006 in London, United Kingdom, with a focus on improving religious relationships between people of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian faiths. The stated mission of the foundation is to “promote, encourage, and support engagement between Jews, Christians, and Muslims both individually and through their respective communities through dialogue, education, and research.” According to their website, Coexist is a non-proﬁt organization whose goal is to end conﬂict by bringing together people of all

28 The The Baptist Baptist Magazine Magazine

faiths, cultures, and ideologies through education and innovation. The bumper sticker associated with this movement was created separate from the cause. In 2001, a Polish graphic designer Piotr Mlodozeniec created it for a competition. He combined symbols for the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faiths in the word Coexistence, which was the theme of the competition. He used the crescent to represent Islam, the Star of David to represent Judaism, the cross to represent Christianity as

commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The only recourse the Pharisees had after the resurrection was to deny it. Even though Jesus had been seen multiple times over a period of forty days after His resurrection, these sad religious leaders worked feverishly to spread lies. They paid off the Roman soldiers and directed them to lie as well. The only weak and sorry defense Satan has against the resurrection is to deny it ever happened. Some people still believe the same falsehoods today. Yet,

these hollow lies echo against the walls of an empty tomb. Hebrews 2:14–15 - “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Not only did the substitutionary death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ destroy all false religions, but also it destroyed the father of those religions. Satan was destroyed and stripped of his hold over mankind on that glorious resurrection morning. Through saving faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are delivered from the fear of death and hell. Rejoice, my Friends! Christ is risen! He is King of kings and Lord of lords! The forces of evil will do everything in their power to oppose the truth of the resurrection. Do not fall for their seducing calls for unity. Do not cower from their loud threats punishment. Stand firm in the faith and boldly proclaim the supremacy of Christ and the power of His resurrection! 8I]T +PIXUIV Q[ IV I]\PWZ IVL XI[\WZ WN +]Z\Q[ +WZVMZ *IX\Q[\ +P]ZKP QV ?ISMÅ MTL :1 AW] KIV NWTTW_ PQU WV <_Q\\MZ .IKMJWWS IVL 1V[\IOZIU I\ <PM8I]T-+PIXUIV

a whole, and dropped the -ence. He said his intent was for it to be used to promote religious tolerance. The design has evolved over the years to be more inclusive. There are many variations, but the most common of these has each letter representing different religions or ideas. The “C” is for Islam, “o” is for peace or paciﬁsm, “e” is for gender equality, “x” is for the Jewish religion, “i” is for Bah’ai or paganism, “s” is for the eastern religions, and “t” is to represent the cross for Christian religions. Although the promotion of peace and equality is a noble one, any believer who knows Scripture well knows

this is not biblical. Is it possible this movement and message is not as it appears to be? In an interview with a monthly Christian newspaper, the sticker’s main promoter, who also is one of the founders of the movement, does not agree with the view that Jesus is in any way divine or the embodiment of a Supreme Being who governs the universe. He believes in Christ simply as a teacher. He follows the teachings of Jesus, in that Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”; but he views the deiﬁcation of Christ as a political ploy and an illusion. Issue 3 3 July/August July/August 2017 2017 Issue

30 The Baptist Magazine

Bring Me the Books by

Greg Neal Managing Editor

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” -II Timothy 4:13

ince I was a small boy, I have always loved to read. Because reading was encouraged in our home, early on, I developed a strong love for books. Books have played an important part in my life. Perhaps that is why one of my great passions is promoting the written word. Today, many Christians do not place a strong emphasis on reading; yet I have never met a successful person who was not an avid reader in his field. Reading and success are almost always connected to one another. Obviously, Paul was a reader. At the time of this writing, Paul was in prison. It is certain that he had time on his hands. Paul asked Timothy to bring three things to him when he came to him in prison. Paul wanted his cloak, his books, and his parchments. While Paul was in prison, what did he decide to do with that time? He decided to read. He could not preach, but he could read. There are several interesting things about this passage that should be noted when it comes to the subject of reading. 1. Reading is a good way to pass idle time. Today, we have more distractions in our lives than we need. Unfortunately, these distractions cause many people to stop reading. Paul had very little to do while he was in prison, so he decided to use his time to read. God’s people need to be more involved in reading in their spare time. The best way to overcome the television and the entertainment of this world is not merely by restraining or refraining from it but by replacing it with good books. 2. Reading was a means of escape for Paul. In II Timothy 1:12 Paul said, For the which cause I also suffer these things:…” Imagine Paul confined in the dimly lit dungeon. He describes to Timothy his suffering. Reading was a way to take his mind off of the suffering. It was a means of mental escape from his LEFT The Peabody Library in Baltimore, Marryland, opened in 1878.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

discomfort. Many times when I am struggling, I find that reading takes my mind away from those things which are trying to bring me down. It is good to read in order to escape from negative thoughts during times of suffering. 3. Paul controlled what he was going to read. Paul requested his books and his parchments. Certainly, there were other books that would have been easier to obtain, but Paul wanted these specific books. It was not enough just to read. He wanted to read the right materials. We

looked at the books Paul was reading and decided that he would probably want to read those same books. When we read, we encourage those around us not only to read but also to choose the right books to read. My dad taught me to find out what the great men were reading. It is wise for preachers to recommend good books to their people. It is wise for teachers to recommend good books to their students. It is wise for parents to recommend good books to their children. Good leaders not only read for themselves but also influence

do not know what books Paul had in his library. Obviously, he was a learned man; so no doubt, he had been an avid reader in the past. Because he had some books that meant a great deal to him, he had chosen carefully the books he wanted. A Christian should read, but he should be careful to select the right books to read. Some will suggest books that do not promote fundamental values. We must choose carefully what books we read just as Paul did. 4. Paul was an example to Timothy in his reading. Imagine a young Timothy realizing how important reading was to his mentor, Paul. It is possible that Timothy

their followers to read as well. 5. Books made for good companions during his lonely hours. Paul said to Timothy, Greatly desiring to see thee,â&#x20AC;Ś How could Paul not be lonely as he sat in that dungeon? He longed to see Timothy, but he knew his visit would be short. He wanted the books as companions for when Timothy was gone. We sit in our living rooms with our remote controls and surf from channel to channel trying to find something worth watching. Sadly, often we settle for something that is neither beneficial nor edifying to us. However, we always can pick up a good book to read. Reading does not merely occupy

RIGHT A copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the ďŹ rst book printed using mass-produced moveable type, on display in the New York Public Library

32 The Baptist Magazine

our minds. When we read, we are being challenged as we do so. In lonely hours, books make good companions. 6. Paul valued his books. Paul was alone in that prison cell, yet he thought about his books. He loved those books. He found comfort in them. He found strength in them. He found wisdom in them. He found encouragement in them. The books were his companions when he was alone. Books are valuable. 7. Paul longed for the parchments. Paul mentions the parchments separately from his books. Parchment was the equivalent to our writing paper today. It leads me to believe that these parchments were journals that Paul kept. Paul was not only a reader but also a writer. No doubt, he wrote down his thoughts in journals. Perhaps he wrote notes about people he had met, lessons he had learned, or experiences that he had enjoyed or trials he had endured. Paul wanted to read his own writings to refresh his memory concerning these things. We should be not only good readers, but also good writers. Journaling is a great way for us to learn how to express our thoughts. People often ask how to become a writer. The answer is simple. Write. What should we write? We should write our thoughts before we forget them. When we read scripture and the Lord lays a thought on our hearts, write it down. When we go through an interesting experience in our lives, write about it. When we learn a lesson from an experience, write about that lesson. Someone once said, “If you don’t enjoy reading what you write, why would anyone else want to read it?” I believe the parchments were Paul’s own writings of thoughts he had through his travels and even his persecutions. Perhaps he had

written notes of conversations he had with others. Perhaps he had written quotes from people who said something significant. Whatever it was, Paul was more interested in reading those parchments than he was the books. Perhaps he wanted to write, even while he was there, and journal his thoughts. When our daughter Amanda was born, she had a terrible illness that would eventually take her life at a very young age. I began to write down many of the thoughts that I had during this time. Often, I have gone back to read what I had written. It has comforted me and reminded me of God’s grace during a very difficult time. Reading my own writing has been second only to the Scriptures in giving me the courage and comfort I need. Christians need to follow the example of the Apostle Paul and become more in tune with books. I like what Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, ‘Bring the books’ — join in the cry.”

BELOW Children in Harare, Zimbabwe, read a Bible in class.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

Old Men Young Men’s Sake for

Bob Gray, Sr. Editor-in-Chief

¹1 _IV\ \W JM QV \PM XZM[MVKM WN OZMI\ WTL UMV# VW\ NWZ _PI\ \PMa KIV LW NWZ UM IVL VW\ UMZMTa NWZ _PI\ \PMa KIV \MIKP UM J]\ 1 _IV\ \W JM IZW]VL \PMU [W \PI\ 1 KIV feel the presence of their greatness.” ~ Dr. Jack Hyles

34 The Baptist Magazine

s the men of God whom Dr. Jack Hyles admired became older, their value increased with him, even as it decreased with many others. In fact, I watched the way Dr. Hyles treated men as they got older. He did not consider it a burden to do whatever he could to make sure that men such I[ 4MM :WJMZ[WV PIL I OZMI\MZ QVÆ]MVKM QV their later years. He did the same for John R. Rice, Bill Rice, R. G. Lee, Ford Porter, and Curtis Hutson even as he was dying of cancer. The older these men became, the more Dr. Hyles celebrated them. The older a person becomes, the greater the burden they often become to others; and that is true with older preachers, too. The older we get, the more we depend on others to value us and even to care for us. Most young men treat older men with a condescending courtesy, but most do not truly value them. Dr. Hyles did not look at older men as burdens. He looked at them as blessings. If

one of them said something embarrassing, it did not bother Dr. Hyles because it was more of a blessing than a burden to still have that UIV IZW]VL 0M LQL VW\ ÆQVKP NZWU LWQVO whatever was necessary to treat these men as the treasures they were. He valued them, not just with words, but with actions. He promoted them as they got older. He championed them and celebrated them more. He saw what they had done in the past, but he saw more than that. He saw what they still could do. Imagine young preacher boys at HylesAnderson College sitting in the presence of a man like Lee Roberson. Even if they did not remember a word he said, their lives were XZWNW]VLTa QVÆ]MVKML Ja JMQVO QV \PM XZM[MVKM of a man who was faithful for all those years and whom God had greatly used. Dr. Hyles once said, “I want to be in the presence of great old men; not for what they can do for me, and not merely for what they can teach me, but I want to be around them so

\PI\ 1 KIV NMMT \PM XZM[MVKM WN \PMQZ OZMI\VM[[ º That is why Dr. Hyles always celebrated the older men. Sometimes, it was at great expense to him. He did not care. He never complained. It was his honor to be able to do so. He truly loved them. He never outgrew them. So, why did Dr. Hyles treat older men so well? 1. He felt he owed it to them. Paul said, ¹1 IU LMJ\WZ º ,Z 0aTM[ NMT\ \PI\ PM _I[ IT[W a debtor to these old men. He felt indebted to the men who had gone before him and paid the price so that he could have what he had. He did not feel indebted to just those who NW]OP\ \PM ÅOP\ WN NIQ\P# PM NMT\ QVLMJ\ML \W those who preceded him and made it possible for him to have a ministry. He felt indebted to his predecessors of First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. He honored them. He did not point out their failures or weaknesses. He reached out to them and to their families so that he could pay that debt. He honored them because he felt indebted to them. He supported

ABOVE Dr. Tom Neal takes a picture with Dr. Jack Hyles at a monument erected in Dallas, Texas. PREVIOUS PAGE Bob Gray, Sr. receiving his PhD from Dr. Jack Hyles in 1982.

Issue 3 July/August 2017

BELOW Dr. Jack Hyles

\PMU ÅVIVKQITTa I[ I XIZ\ WN XIaQVO \PI\ LMJ\ He lived his life feeling like a debtor to the older men. 2. He valued them. In some societies, people who are older are valued more as they get older. That is not so true in America, but it was with Dr. Hyles. He valued the older men. He wanted to be around them as long as he could and as much as he could. He put his money where his mouth was. He did not XIa TQX [MZ^QKM \W \PM WTL UMV 0M ÅVIVKQITTa [IKZQÅKML NWZ \PMU <PI\ _I[ \PM _Ia PM TQ^ML his life.

3. He was grateful for them. I have never seen a man who appreciated his elders as Dr. Hyles did. He truly was grateful for the QVÆ]MVKM \PMa PIL WV PQ[ TQNM IVL PM VM^MZ got over it. He was grateful for the men who had remained faithful in their works for so long, and he expressed that gratitude with his actions.

36 The Baptist Magazine

4. He was humbled by them. Dr. Hyles once said that a man becomes prideful if he is not in the presence of someone who has exceeded him in faithfulness. He said, “I was proud of forty years of marriage until I met a man who had been married sixty years. I was proud of thirty years of ministry until I met I UIV _Q\P ÅN\a 1 _I[ XZW]L WN \PQZ\a aMIZ[ pastoring the same church until I met a man who had pastored the same church for forty aMIZ[ º He said, “My humility is not because of what people have done to exceed me in accomplishment but in faithfulness. Rewards in Heaven will not be given for numeric []KKM[[ J]\ NWZ KWV[Q[\MVKa QV NIQ\PN]TVM[[ º In other words, he wanted to be around men who had been faithful longer than he had. The hardest thing for all of us to do is to remain faithful. Dr. Hyles believed that the longer [WUMWVM [MZ^ML \PM UWZM PM QVÆ]MVKML others to serve longer. He made heroes of men who were faithful, not of men who had accomplished much. In fact he once said, “Faithfulness is the greatest accomplishment to _PQKP I UIV KIV I\\IQV º 5. He loved them. Dr. Hyles loved John R. Rice like a father. He loved Dr. Bill Rice like a brother. He loved Tom Malone, Lee :WJMZ[WV *WJ 2WVM[ ;Z 4M[\MZ :WTW‫ ٺ‬/ * Vick, Bill Dowell, R. G. Lee, and many others. He loved these men. They were his heroes. 4W^M Q[ VW\ TQX [MZ^QKM 4W^M Q[ [IKZQÅKM ?M should not tell older folks we love them unless _M IZM _QTTQVO \W [IKZQÅKM NWZ \PMU 0M \Z]Ta loved these old men of God. He told them he loved them, and he showed them he loved them. 6. He needed them. The loneliest days of Dr. Hyles’ ministry were when he realized that he had outlived his heroes. I do not know how often he sought advice from John R. Rice. Sometimes, when he was discouraged, it was not their advice he needed as much as the encouragement of being in their presence. He looked forward to preaching with the old men because he needed them. He needed to know that there was still somebody older than he that he could look up to. He did not need them for what they could do for his ministry as much as he needed them for what they could do for his spirit. These were men who had walked with God for a lifetime and faithfully served God for many years. Being in their presence was being in the presence of godliness and faithful service. He

valued that, and he needed it. 7. He earned it. When Dr. Hyles became older, there were some of us who realized what a treasure he was to us. Not everyone did. Some ran when the storms of false accusation came, but others of us saw his value and stayed close to him. We did for him what he had done for others. We valued him, and we let him know we did. That was of God because of what he had done for older men throughout his ministry. I watched Dr. Hyles grow old. As I watched him grow old, I loved him even more. Sometimes, when I became weary from traveling, I would think of that seventy-fouryear-old who traveled every Monday and Tuesday, week after week, up until the end of his life, who kept walking with God and encouraging young preachers until the end, and who fought battles with us until the end. I wish he were still here. I miss him. Now, I am one of the old men. I have outlived most of my heroes. I know now how it feels to be valued by some and treated like a burden by others.

Young men, do not miss the boat when it comes to the value of old preachers. Do not make us feel that we are a burden to you. Sometimes we may cramp your style, but do not let that rob you of the blessing we can and want to be. Be careful, young man. We may become a bigger burden to you as we grow older, but do not resent that burden. Do VW\ LM^IT]M ][ ?M PI^M [WUM\PQVO \W W‫ ٺ‬MZ you. You will be old one day. Then, you will understand that even though you have proven to be faithful for all those years, many will value you the least. It will hurt you. However, there will be a few young men who will value you for the same reason Dr. Hyles valued the older men of his day, and they will be grateful.

ABOVE The editors of the Baptist Magazine, Bob Gray, Sr. and Greg Neal, stand with Ryan French, a young pastor.

Dr. Bob Gray, Sr.’s newest book Introducing Jack Hyles to a New Generation is now available. Visit bereanpublications.com to order a copy today. Issue 3 July/August 2017

38 The Baptist Magazine

LEFT The Biel Family from left to right: Blake, Jennifer, Brooklyn, Brett, Jackson, and Judson RIGHT Brooklyn at age 2 sitting in her mother’s lap due to her inability to hold up her head. BELOW Jennifer and her father on her wedding day December 4, 2004

Sweetness

The

OF THE TRIAL by Tracie S. Burns

“S

weetness of the trial.” Jennifer Beil is not sure when that phrase came to her, but “sweetness” is how she defines her life today. If one asks her if her life is sweet, she answers with a resounding “YES!” To some that may not seem unusual at first glance. She has not only good looks but also a loving and devoted husband, a brood of wonderful children, and a strong and supportive family. She attends and serves at a strong, vibrant, independent Baptist church. However, after hearing Jen’s story, most will redefine what finding sweetness in life, even in the midst of trial and tribulation, truly is. Issue 3 July/August 2017

RIGHT Jenn, an acomplished soccer player, holding her “Best Female Athlete” trophy awarded to her during her senior year in high school in 2000

Jen grew up in a secure Christian home with a father whom she admired because he was an everyday soulwinner and had a consistent walk with God. She still today defines him as “Super Christian.” While attending public school, Jen grew involved in sports, especially soccer. Playing year round, she became so skilled that she began to travel to foreign countries to play and train. She was “soccer all-state” her junior and senior years of high school. The college scholarship offers poured in from all over the United States. In 1999, Jen attended a youth conference where she heard Dr. Hyles preach about honoring one’s parents. God pricked her heart that night. With tear-filled eyes, she moved forward at the invitation to make public a monumental decision that would drastically change the course of her life. Jen put aside her dreams of playing soccer for a major university. She surrendered to serve God and to attend Bible college. At Bible college, Jen worked toward her future in service for God. She wanted to be “all in,” with an overwhelming desire to know God fully. As a freshman, she created a sign for the wall in her dorm room that read, “I want to live my life in such a way 40 The Baptist Magazine

that when I tell God, ‘I love you,’ He replies, ‘I KNOW!’” She knew that merely going to Bible college was not enough to make her a great Christian. Jen also wanted to find a wonderful Christian man who loved God and followed Him just like her father. She went on many dates and discovered that there were some super-spiritual guys who were weird, and there were the “cool guys” who could care less about God! She prayed, “Please, Lord, just give me one right there in the middle!” She need not have feared because God had already chosen the perfect man for her. In the third year of college, on the very first day of classes, Jen glimpsed a young preacher boy named Brett Beil. He asked her out on a date, and many more dates later, on December 4, 2004, Brett and Jen were married. Despite the fact that neither Brett nor Jen were missions majors in Bible college, God set things into motion to fulfill His perfect will. By the time Brett graduated in the spring of 2007, He made it clear to the Beils that they were going to Ghana, West Africa, as missionaries. In June of that year, only one month after solidifying their decision, the Beils, along with their

infant son, found themselves on the foreign mission field. Living in Ghana, West Africa, was far from an easy life. Disease was rampant, and death was commonplace. On any given Sunday, a Ghanaian would attend church and the next week be absent. When inquiries were made, many times the answer was “He just got sick and died.” Often death was due to disease being undiagnosed or untreated. Brett, Jen, and most of her children suffered with malaria. Brett contracted the deadliest strain, cerebral malaria. He was healthy in the morning, a little sick by afternoon, and about to die by nightfall. Without malaria medicine, he would have died or suffered severe brain damage. Extreme heat was year-round. Temperatures hovered between eighty and one hundred degrees, with ninety percent humidity. Because electricity was unreliable, often the power would go out for days at a time, making sleeping in the unbearable temperatures nearly impossible. When the power went out, so did the running water. Jen learned to love the little

blessings of flushing a toilet, washing her hands, or even doing the dishes, after going days without power and water. Jen struggled through two of her pregnancies while in Ghana. She had to battle not only extreme temperatures but also unpleasant odors. People did not bathe regularly. There were no underground sewers, merely the open gutters. Once, while out soulwinning, Jen fought to keep it together while witnessing to a man who was cleaning pig intestines for a stew while roaches crawled all over him. All of these bitter circumstances in a difficult life paled in comparison to the sweet and beautiful spiritual rewards the Beils received while in Ghana, West Africa. Brett and Jen were used to see more than ten thousand Africans saved, hundreds of these through personal one-on-one soulwinning. Brett and Jen both taught Bible college classes to the native people. Four of the men in Brett’s adult Sunday school class went on to become native pastors in Africa. Brett started a Christian school that, to this day, is still teaching Ghanaians, Nigerians, and Liberians.

ABOVE Brett and Jenn standing with Agata and Ama, members of their Sunday school class, outside of their mud hut located in a small village outside of Kumasi, Ghana West Africa in 2009

Issue 3 July/August 2017

BELOW Brett and Jenn standing in front of a school crowd in Kumasi, Ghana, after presenting the plan of salvation and seeing many of them accept Christ.

On Mother’s Day each year, one of the Ghanaian ladies calls Jen to wish her a wonderful Mother’s Day, as she considers Jen her “spiritual mother.” Without the influences of Christian family and church family, Brett and Jen had to decide for themselves WHY they believed WHAT they believed. They grew stronger as a couple and more spiritual as a family. Jen knew without enduring the bitterness of Africa, she would not have had the lasting, spiritual experiences of joy found on the mission field. Nearly five years flew by. Soon it was the beginning of 2012. Jen, young and athletic, should have been in the prime of her life and enjoying good health at the age of twenty-nine. Sadly, she was not. Her neck was covered in enlarged lymph nodes. She fought through seven bouts of

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strep throat. Crushed with exhaustion, she could not even move out of bed to enjoy her sweet little boys. All medical testing available in Ghana had been done. All avenues for help had been exhausted, still with no answers. Doctors advised the Beils to go home to the United States to find a correct diagnosis and to get well. The Beils were brokenhearted. Jen could not fathom leaving the mission field. Brett fasted for a month, seeking guidance. God’s answer pointed them back to the United States. As flights were arranged and things were packed, Jen remembered that sign she had made long ago for her dorm room wall. She also remembered a college chapel sermon about people who suffer. They come to know God in a greater way. Upon her return, Jen saw a battery of

specialists: an infectious disease doctor, a tropical disease doctor, an ENT, an OB/GYN, and a primary care physician. Liters of blood were drawn. Needlepoint biopsies and MRIs were performed, all to no avail. Every doctor concluded that Jen was gravely ill, but not one doctor could find what was wrong. When it seemed Jen was nearly out of options, through God’s grace, Brett located a holistic doctor. On the first visit, the doctor diagnosed Jen with parasites. A strict regimen of parasite medications was started, which was really tough on Jen’s body. After almost nine months, Jen began to see light at the end of the tunnel. She felt at about seventy-five percent of what used to be normal for her. They planned a trip to see her family in New Jersey at Christmas. In the small hours of Christmas morning, before the children all tumbled out of bed and begged to open presents, Jen decided to take a pregnancy test. When it said “inconclusive,” she took another. It was positive. In shock, she went to tell Brett and then burst into tears. Although 2012 had been a brutal year, she was just now beginning to feel well enough to be a good mom to her three sons. Another pregnancy might change that. She felt sad as Christmas morning dawned. Brett reminded her that this would most likely be their last baby, so they both decided to find joy in this unexpected blessing from the Lord. Upon returning home, Jen made an appointment with her holistic doctor. She told him of her pregnancy. She expressed how excited she was that she was feeling nearly one hundred percent better. He

reminded her that her body had now switched from healing to creating a life. He told her that after she had this baby, her health would most likely return to what it was before she started the parasite medications. She would have to go through this healing process all over again. Jen just laughed him off; and because she was so happy to be healthy once more, she did not believe him. After having had all boys, Brett and Jen were excited to find out they were finally expecting a girl! The OB/GYN doctor ordered a 3D ultrasound. Jen was excited to see her baby on the monitor; but when the usual twentyminute ultrasound dragged to thirty minutes, then forty minutes, she grew concerned. The technician left to get the doctor. The doctor came in and explained in many medical terms that the baby’s brain was not developed properly. Still, Jen remained hopeful because they had been told when expecting their last boy Blake that his heart was not properly developed. However, Blake was born in perfect health, without any problems at all. Doctors ordered more ultrasounds and MRI diagnostic testing. Every single test came back saying there were issues with the baby girl’s brain. The Beils were advised to see a genetics counselor. At the first appointment, the Beils were told that because of the issues with the baby’s brain they should immediately abort. Brett and Jen were absolutely shocked! Jen was thirty weeks pregnant! How could this even be legal? The ultrasound showed a perfectly formed little baby! Brett seethed in anger at this disgusting “advice.” Jen was crushed by knowing her baby’s brain was

Jen, in all this, still held onto hope because she had done and was doing everything right. She had been a missionary.

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not developed right; however, she was even more concerned by the condition of her country, that a medical professional would suggest choosing to murder their baby girl. Devastation set in. The Beils spent most nights in tears. Jen, in all this, still held onto hope because she had done and was doing everything right. She had been a missionary. She was reading her Bible, praying, and going soulwinning. She knew God could do a miracle because she felt she deserved to have a healthy baby. Brooklyn Beil was born without complications on August 21, 2013. Everything seemed perfect. After three days in the NICU, the Beils were sent home. They were told by the doctors that if Brooklyn had seizures to come back to the hospital and a neurologist would be found for them. Jen’s heart squeezed tight at the word “seizures.” After having seen a family member suffer seizures, Jen could not think of much that terrified her more. Anxiety began to simmer in her heart and mind. A diagnostic MRI was scheduled for Brooklyn at two weeks old. During those two weeks, the Beils had begged God for a miracle. Brett had promised God they would be missionaries again if he would heal Brooklyn. Jen had read her Bible completely through, trying to get God’s attention. On the day of the testing, Jen lay on the floor of the testing room to pray, begging God and telling Him to take her life if it meant Brooklyn could be healed. The MRI results concluded that Brooklyn had complete absence of the corpus callosum, polymicrogyria, enlarged

ventricles, water on the brain, and a small cerebellum cortex. These were all medical terms only to say that Brooklyn Beil’s brain was not formed correctly. Brooklyn was diagnosed with Aicardi Syndrome. Jen never got angry with God, but her battle was a despondent disappointment in Him. Jen knew she was supposed to have a blessed life because she had followed Him, doing everything right. She had offered God her all; she had sacrificed for Him. She did not understand why God thought she deserved this. Jen took walks and looked at the flowers, telling God, “You made this flower perfect, but why couldn’t You make Brooklyn’s brain perfect?” She looked at the sky and at the birds soaring effortlessly, and asked, “God, You made those birds who no one even cares about, but why couldn’t You make Brooklyn’s brain right?” Jen was not angry; she knew if God wanted Brooklyn to have a perfect brain, He would have given her one. Jen had total faith that God could have done so if He had wanted to do so. However, He did not, and Jen spent the early days of Brooklyn’s life drowning in confusion and disappointment. Brooklyn began having seizures at five weeks old. Starting off mild and short, the seizures grew in length and consistency. Jen decided since God did not want to heal Brooklyn, she would do it herself. Jen took Brooklyn to a plethora of doctors and specialists: neurologists, ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists,

2MV TIa WV \PM ÆWWZ of the testing room to pray, begging God and telling Him to take her life if it meant Brooklyn could be healed.

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and stimulation therapists. She focused solely on making Brooklyn well; so much so that she hardly ate and rarely slept. Her marriage was suffering. Her boys were struggling. After three months, Jen broke down. Her body gave out. She knew she could not change what God had chosen for her. She prayed telling God that Brooklyn was His. Jen laid her daughter back into God’s hands. For the first time, Jen put Brooklyn in her own room to sleep at night and felt that peace was possibly on its way. Three nights later, Jen awoke in the early hours to feed Brooklyn. As she relaxed and cradled her baby, Jen had an overwhelming sense that something was wrong. Suddenly, Jen was struggling to breathe and swallow. She laid Brooklyn back in her crib and stumbled to the kitchen to get a drink of water. Still not feeling any relief, Jen shook Brett awake and begged him to dial 911, convinced she was having a heart attack. Jen was shaking all over when the EMTs arrived to examine her. They told her she was having a fullblown panic attack. Jen made an appointment to see her doctor. After testing, Jen learned that her adrenal glands were extremely taxed, and her body was still fighting the persisting parasites. The stress of the past few months had caught up to her, and her life was about to take another sharp turn. Jen began to convince herself that she was not just suffering from anxiety but that she had a serious health issue that would kill her. Jen felt queasy and sick and barely ate. Her weight dropped so low that she refused to get on the scale, not wanting to know how thin she had become. At one point, she convinced herself that she had leukemia. She landed in the ER seven times, mostly to replenish her fluids from not eating and drinking. Her heart incessantly raced, and the pressure in her chest was debilitating. Until home healthcare was acquired, Brett quit working for a time because Jen was unable

to care for herself, let alone Brooklyn. Just holding Brooklyn prompted Jen’s panic attacks. Brooklyn’s seizures grew worse as now she was experiencing twelve to twenty seizures a day that lasted from five to forty-five minutes each. Consumed by fear and distracted by illness, Jen was unable to be there for a daughter who desperately needed her. Fear. Every day, morning, noon, and night, Jen was haunted by endless fear. Nothing could distract from it. Each morning, Jen awoke and, even before getting out of bed, wondered if that was the day that Brooklyn would go to Heaven. She mentally chose the dress she would wear to the funeral and what she would say. She pictured what Brooklyn would wear in her casket and which of her stuffed bears would be placed in her daughter’s arms. Jen thought of the boys and wondered how they would cope with the loss of their sister. The worst thought was when she pondered the idea that it might be better for Brooklyn to be in Heaven so both she and her daughter would no longer have to suffer. Immediately after that thought, Jen’s heart broke with guilt and sorrow because despite all the suffering Jen loved her only daughter and wanted Brooklyn to live and be loved. Jen could not accept that Brooklyn was not “okay.” She compared Brooklyn to the other girls her age in the church nursery, all toddlers learning to walk in their pretty, frilly dresses, while Brooklyn at one-year old lay quietly in a crib in the newborn nursery. Jen acknowledged her egregious lack of faith, while she battled her theology of Who God really was. As Jen struggled through her health issues, she discovered how the Devil finds the Christian at his weakest point and moves in for the kill. The Devil cornered Jen in her thought life. He told her lies, such as: “You are the reason your family came home from the mission field.” “Brooklyn is sick because of you.” “Your husband wishes you would die so he can Issue 3 July/August 2017

have a new wife.” “No one believes you are really sick; they think you are doing this just for attention.” “Your kids deserve a new mom who loves them and spends time with them.” “Your pastor is disappointed in you.” The worst lie of all was, “You will never, ever be happy again, so life is not worth living.” Jen’s thought life became so damaged that she began to believe all the lies of the Devil. She was convinced that she was worthless. One day, Jen asked Brett if he wished that she would die so he could find a new, healthy, happy wife. Brett looked at Jen as if she had a third eyeball and declared how she was the only one he ever wanted. He expressed how much he prayed for her healing daily. He brought each of their sons in, and each told Jen how she was the best mommy and that each of them loved only her. Jen wept broken tears, seeing how the Devil was trying to destroy her. She begged God to heal her, not just physically, but spiritually. After her first birthday, Brooklyn was administered a swallow test. Upon failing the test, she was sent to the operating room to have a G-tube inserted in her stomach. This particular surgery was routine and never failed, but with Brooklyn, it failed. Doctors were baffled, and the easy surgery became a desperate effort to save Brooklyn’s life. As Jen sat watching the doctors scrambling in and out of the operating room, something within her began to change. She knew in this moment, when the possibility of losing her daughter was so close and so real, that God was in it all. Her heart opened as she fell in love with who God intended Brooklyn to be,

instead of trying to love Brooklyn for who Jen wanted her to be. In that moment, the blossom of rejoicing in the daughter God had given her bloomed in Jen’s life. No longer did Jen need her “what if ’s.” Joy grew in the fact that Jen had Brooklyn for as long as God would allow her to keep her. Jen was able to start taking the parasite medications once more. Almost instantly, she began feeling better. In her desire for spiritual healing, Jen launched her true walk with God. In order to cope with her anxiety issues, she spent hours of each day walking up and down her street. These walks became prayer walks, and Jen’s prayer life became LIFE. She spent hours each day in conversation with God; God gave Jen a “season of prayer.” Jen prayed for family and for others. No longer was it, “I HAVE to pray,” but now was, “I GET to pray!” She prayed for anyone and everyone. She rejoiced in the fact that when she told someone she was praying for them, she meant it wholeheartedly! In Job 42:10, the Bible says, And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends:… Jen did not realize it at the time, but in this season of prayer, God was turning her captivity of fear and sorrow. As her prayer life grew, Jen learned not to fear. She was no longer afraid of Brooklyn having seizures, dying, or being in pain. Within her heart flowered gratefulness for her own time of illness and for Brooklyn being different. Jen’s compassion for others blossomed. Instead of feeling critical toward others, her heart broke for the hurting. She desired to show them the Great Physician, Who

She knew in this moment, when the possibility of losing her daughter was so close and so real, that God was in it all.

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Issue 3 July/August 2017

could heal not only their bodies but also their souls. She looked everywhere for soulwinning opportunities. It no longer mattered if others did not like her zeal for souls or thought she was crazy. Jen’s pride fell away at all of God’s goodness, and she wanted to share Him with everyone. Jen’s three sons love missions. Their hearts became knit to the need for Christ in a foreign land. To this day, Jackson (10), Judson (9), and Blake (6) still want to go back to Ghana, West Africa. Brooklyn will turn four years old in August. She averages between one and three seizures per day. She still is developmentally an infant. Brooklyn may be able only to mumble some sounds, but God has used a little girl whom many would label as “disabled” to do some unbelievable things in a few short years. Each month, Jen still battles with her health having a few bad days but, overall, she has left those clouds of despondency far behind her. Her faith has spoken volumes to those in her life and those watching from afar. She testifies to know firsthand that when God sends a trial into a Christian’s life, it is not because He hates that person or wants to make that person’s life difficult. In the center of God’s will, a RIGHT Jenn with Alice and Trina, students of hers in Bible college in 2007

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Christian is sent trials to pull him from his comfort zone and draw him closer to his Saviour. The trial of Jen Beil was not bitter things Jen had chosen. God, through His mercy, chose these bitter circumstances for her. Without this trial, she never would have experienced this great spiritual awakening. Her perspective has drastically changed. No longer does she want a shallow, temporal life without hurt, but she craves the sweet spiritual life that trials have brought to her. God perfectly designed the trial for Jen Beil to draw her closer to Him than she could ever have imagined being. Through broken circumstances, Jen learned to live by real faith. No longer did she lean on the spiritual people in her life, like her father and her husband. Jen Beil learned what it was to NEED God. Just as Job found at the end of his trial that, …the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:… (Job 42:12), Jen is quick to remind others that their own trials are only temporary. When the Christian stays faithful through the storm, he will find on the other side that living in Christ as never before is the sweetness of the trial!

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