In This Issue

• BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
• "SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT"
• THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
• PLAGIARISM
• MORE INFORMATION...

BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

As Jesus "was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, 'By what authority are You doing these things?' But Jesus answered and said to the, 'I also will ask you one question: then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: the baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.' And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?" But if we say, "From men," - they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, 'We do not know.' And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things'" (Mark 11:27-33).

The leaders of the Jewish community have a question for Jesus: "By what authority do you do these things?" We might point out that it is fitting and proper to ask of any teacher or religious worker by what authority he does what he is doing. The chief priests, scribes and elders had a right and a responsibility to know by what authority Jesus acted. But had they been sincere, they need not have asked the question, for Jesus had already made His claims abundantly clear. Quite early in His ministry, one of their own rulers named Nicodemus had come to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs you You do unless God is with him" (John 3:2). What Nicodemus knew, the other rulers could have known. Jesus had manifested His Deity and authority by numerous signs, miracles, and wonders.

The religious rulers of Jerusalem were not seeking the truth, but, as they had done numerous times before, were evidently seeking to find something in Jesus' answer that they could use against Him. Their question had already been answered numerous times in various ways, but Jesus agreed to answer again if they, first, would answer His question: "The baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men?". Their reaction shows their lack of concern for the truth. They were willing to answer Jesus' question either way, if it would keep them out of trouble. But they were in a dilemma. No matter which way they answered, they were in trouble. If they admitted John's message was divine, they condemned themselves for not believing and obeying it. If they insisted that John acted without divine authority, they would lose favor with the people they sought so desperately to impress. They could not answer without getting in trouble, so they feigned ignorance: "We do not know" by what authority John preached and baptized.

Jesus, then refused to play into their hands. "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

--Clarence R. Johnson

"SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT"

Something that is called "Being slain in the Spirit" is being practiced by some Pentecostals and Neo-Pentecostals and is being popularized by "Tele-evangelists" such as Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, etc. These false teachers have concocted the expression, "Being slain in the Spirit" to describe those who lay down, fall down or (as is sometimes the case) are shoved down because they are in a certain emotional state when a false teacher has them under his influence and control. Roberts, Hinn, etc. claim that those people are "slain" by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Does God's word teach (or authorize) such a practice? There are several passages in the Old Testament that mention being "slain." For example, we find the expressions "Slain by the sword," (cf. Ezek. 31:18; 32:21, 25, 26, 31; Jer. 18:21). "Slain with the sword," (cf. 2 Chron. 23:14; Lam. 4:9; Ezek. 31:17; 35:8), and "Slain with hunger," (cf. Lam. 4:9). In the New Testament we find "Slain by the sword" in Heb. 11:37 in reference to men and women in the Old Testament period who suffered because of their faith and truth in God.

There are references to "the slain of the Lord," (cf. Jer. 25:33; Isa. 66:16). There are hundreds of passages that mention the idea of "slaying" and "being slain" and there are hundreds of passages that mention "the Spirit." However, there is not ONE passage that mentions "being slain in the Spirit!" This expression is the figment of someone's imagination. It is not found in the Scriptures!

Consider the following facts.

1. There is NO precept (i.e., command or statement) in the New Testament where a believer (or unbeliever) should be or may be "slain in the Spirit!"

2. There is NO necessary implication that a person should or may be "slain in the Spirit!"

3. There is NO inspired example where a person was ever "slain in the Spirit!"

4. The passages often used by the promoters of "Being slain in the Spirit" do not mention being "slain," or they do not mention "in the Spirit" or they do not mention either! Strange, isn't it?

Your New Testament does NOT teach that the Holy Spirit physically knocks people down because they are under His influence or in His presence! Don't be deceived by those who claim that "people are being slain in the Spirit." "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).

--Carroll R. Sutton, Gospel Observer, Aug. 29, 1993

THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT

The many religious groups involved in the modern day ecumenical movement claim union by focusing on their agreements while ignoring their unbiblical names and practices. They claim that since they all believe in one God, Jesus as His Son, and one body (church), any other differences are insignificant.
While it is important for us to agree upon these truths-which even the demons believe (Jas. 2:19)-other Bible truths are no less important (Matt. 4:4). Even Jesus Christ and Satan have similarities (i.e. both are spiritual beings, both are involved with the souls of mankind)! However, those who desire to be faithful to God cannot ignore spiritual unsoundness without becoming hypocritical (Eph. 5:6-11; 1 Pet. 2:5-9).

The only time there can be a scriptural ecumenical movement is when all involved yield to the exclusive nature of God's ONE-derful plan in Ephesians 4:4-6. If everyone followed only the word of God, there would be no denominations (divisions John 17:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:10), nor the need of those associated with them to claim one body. One body, reigned by one head, does not "walk" in different directions (Amos 3:3; Luke 6:46)!

Let us desire friendship with God more than friendship with the world (Gal. 1:10; Jas. 4:4). We must study to know where lines are to be drawn (1 John 2:3-4; 2 John 9)

--Jeff Belknap, The Beacon, April 6, 2004

PLAGIARISM

"To steal or purloin and pass off as one's own (the ideas, words, writings, etc. of another)." Thus does a dictionary define the word "plagiarism," and the practice is alive and well among men. It is a form of both theft and lying, and it is found among authors and writers, students and teachers, reporters and editors, politicians and preachers. It is now practiced to a large extent, and it is nearly always found out. When it is deliberate, it is reprehensible and inexcusable.

Many of the things that every individual has learned have come from others in the form of spoken words heard or written words read. Our mind are thus influenced and molded, and they retain those things that we believe to be true and accept as good and worthwhile. These, in turn, find expression in our own words, both spoken and written. Very little of what anyone writes is completely original in the truest sense of that word (cf. Eccl. 1:9; 2:12; 3:15; 6:10).

Hardly anyone who writes anything is going to do so without using some of the words and phrases, ideas and themes, points and conclusions of others. But this is a far cry from copying the material of others and giving ourselves credit for it by affixing our own names to it. Sometimes material is copied, and the name of the author inadvertently left off. Sometimes such "anonymous" material is used, and a name mistakenly affixed to it as the author. Sometimes initials at the end of an article are misconstrued (some writers have the same initials). I have seen articles written me by attributed to others - knowing how such things can happen and considering it an honest mistake (and flattered that anyone would think my material worth repeating), I usually do nothing about it. But when I see somebody else's material attributed to me, I always want to write and correct it. But, again, all of this is a far cry from deliberate plagiarism.

This article is simply an appeal to every one who writes, prints, and circulates articles to be more careful and more conscientious. Put your name on initials at either the beginning or the end of your articles-or otherwise identify yourself as the author ("all articles written by the editor unless otherwise specified"). When using material that you do not write, identify the author; if unknown, say so. But please resist the temptation to claim credit for words written by someone else. If you have ever knowingly and deliberately done so in the past, repent of it and resolve never to repeat it.

When I was a student in college, I lost respect for one of my teachers when I learned that many statements in his own textbook were taken directly from other authors (whose books were in the school library) without putting them in quotation marks and with no credit given to those authors in any fashion. I have a Bible handbook supposedly written by a brother in the Lord (who has published several books), but much of it is taken directly, word for word, from an older and larger Bible handbook, without any credit given to the original author. An outlined article by Frank L. Cox was used by a brother in his local church bulletin, copied word for word, with his own name affixed at the end. Recently I received a bulletin with an old Erma Bombeck article (one of her few very serious ones, written more than ten years ago) in it. Credited as the author was a preacher who obviously didn't write it.

Honest mistakes we all understand, but deliberate plagiarism is inexcusable. Anyone who resorts to it knows exactly what he is doing, and "my brethren, these things ought not so to be" (Jas. 4:10).

--Bill Crews, Guardian of Truth, Sept. 16, 1993

MORE INFORMATION...