1. Free to Change
2. Freedom and Responsibility
3. My Kind of People
4. "Come Out And Be Separate"
5. Private Intepretation
6. A "Monkey-Wrench" Scripture
7. The Truth That Frees
8. Literary Devices
9. Fear of God
10. A Love Story
11. The Three Trees In Eden
12. Imputed Righteousness
13. Different Essentials For Different People
14. God's Sons In All Ages
15. Looking To Lust
16. Divorce Her!
17. "While Her Husband Is Alive"
18. "They Won't Let Me Preach!"
19. God's Perplexing Prophets
20. Religous Titles
21. Who Sinned?
22. "I'll Join Your Church"
23. The Church As The Route To Heaven
24. One Hundred Years Old
25. Can Our Churches Unite?
26. Can The Cause Of Sickness Be The Cure?
27. When Life Begins
28. Abortion: Law Or Principle?
29. Human Chattel
30. The Hope of Israel
31. The Great Temptation of Jesus
32. The Rich Man And Lazarus
33. My Hermeneutic
34. Is Immersion Proved By Example?
35. Who Gets The Credit?
36. Hook's Points
37. Heresy
38. I Am A Debtor

Other Books at Freedom's Ring

Through the years in which I published a church bulletin, I headed a more personal column as "Hook's Points." That catch-all page was a potpourri of one-liners, abbreviated observations, expressions of my feelings, impertinent questions, and many points not to be taken too seriously___none of which deserved a separate heading.

This will be another extension of that column; however, I shall only include items long enough to need a heading of their own but too brief to be included as a chapter in this book.

A Modern Name

Simon was his original name. He was referred to as Simon Bar-Jona. Bar-Jona(s) meant son of John, or John's son. Jesus changed his name to Cephas, or Peter, which means rock. So, really, we can say that the great apostle's name was Rock Johnson!

Accelerating Change

Because we have thought that we already had all the right answers, we have felt little need for change. But there have always been disciples among us who thought for themselves. Many of those either dropped out in discouragement, moved on to more accepting fellowships, or struggled along trying not to rock the boat with their different ideas.

It is more encouraging now. This old gray head is actually optimistic! Many are recognizing the futility of efforts toward legal righteousness and they are rejoicing in the liberating and unifying grace of Christ. They are becoming free of the oppressive, guilt inducing system that we developed thinking that it was the true way of the Lord. Our exclusive, sectarian spirit is being replaced by wider acceptance which promotes unity.

In response to my writings, I have heard from thousands of these people. The Spirit is working change. The Lord is still opening hearts. Because of their isolation, many of these disciples have not been aware that they are really a part of a multitude who seek a personal Savior, a relevant message, and a supportive fellowship.

Leadership in this much needed change has not come from our preachers primarily nor from our schools nor from our preacher training schools. These cannot get ahead of the system that supports them. Leadership has not come from our elders as we would wish because they must protect the system that they oversee. This is more of a grassroots movement, and it is growing so strong that the system cannot ignore it. The roof is crumbling down on its supporters.

An observation: Many of our people began to look for grace when there was a marriage failure in the family. They could find no mercy in our legal system. Through this back door, they entered into refreshing grace.

Believing In Faith

We are saved by faith but not by the merit of faith. Jesus is the one who saves. It is not of our works. Often people who disdain the idea of works salvation really substitute faith for works. By stressing the intensity of faith that is thought to qualify one for grace, they are actually substituting meritorious faith for meritorious works! One of these does not make a person feel more secure than the other. Both are based upon human achievement.

Faith fills the gap between the mortal and the divine. Although we are now separated by sin, we are of divine spirit. Faith is the connection through which divinity can continue to flow into us. It is like a communications satellite which allows exchange with other lands. The messages exchanged are not rewards of the satellite but are enabled by it.

Jesus' First Sermon

So far as the record indicates, Jesus' first sermon was delivered in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30). He announced his mission in the words of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

Whether you wish to preach or to serve in other ways, there is an outline for your life ministry. I must confess that I did not follow that outline very closely. That kind of people seldom came to our building to hear my doctrinal discourses.

A News Report

Matthew gives a calm and factual account of the feeding of 5,000 men plus women and children (Matt. 14:13-21). The news media today deals very cynically with anything that pertains to the Christian religion. If the news reporters of Jesus' time felt the same disaffection for religion as their modern counterparts, their account in the Galilee Gazette or Eyewitless News might have run like this:

"Because the excitable peasants of Galilee had heard claims that the young zealot from Nazareth performed healing miracles, they blindly flocked to him. Some claimed that more than 5,000 persons crowded around him but that was an evident exaggeration by Jesus' disciples.

"After the people ate their evening meal, rumors were circulated that the Nazarene had multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed them all. It is not known where the food came from, but it is admitted that some food was brought to the place. Where else did those twelve baskets come from in which they claimed to gather the left-overs?

"Jesus had the people to enter Ahab's pasture land and to sit on the grass with all the ants and chiggers. Ahab asked the authorities to run them off his grazing land but the officials thought that might incite a riot. Ahab says that he may sue for damages.

"The lack of any restroom facilities made for a shameless situation and left a stench on Ahab's choice property.

"Some reported that Jesus was teaching, but in a crowd of that size with its noisy children, it would have been impossible to see or hear. One reporter did hear him repeat some platitudes and make some wild claim about being from God.

"Some unnamed officials have expressed relief that Jesus has left their area so that the disillusioned peasants have gone back to their jobs."

A Dull Lesson

Midweek meetings are not usually very lively. This particular midweek class was the dullest of the dull.

As a visitor in this congregation, I listened to the preacher, whose blood sugar must have been low that night, as he covered Romans 16:1-16. There is a bunch of unidentifiable characters with hard-to-pronounce names whom you can say little about. The class sat in silence as the preacher struggled with suggestions and conjectures from the commentaries. Because I had been in the same situation many times, I could sympathize with the preacher.

Many years later, as I was teaching Acts in a class, I made a connection which made that chapter exciting. Paul had been imprisoned in Judea and separated from his coworkers and friends by time and distance. He had worked with different ones of them in various places. Those friends had gone to Rome, were his prayer partners, and were eager to hear from him. Little mail came through, but his letter comes to them. He remembers them and calls them by name! He plans to come to Rome where there will be a reunion.

After his imprisonment which stretched into years, Paul was sent to Rome. It was a torturous voyage interrupted by a hazardous storm and shipwreck which delayed them three months.

The journey resumes toward Rome. Word reaches Rome that Paul is coming___as a prisoner! We will go to meet him! "And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius (43 miles) and Three Taverns (33 miles) to meet us" (Acts 28:15). Picture this. Many miles from Rome___there were those people with the hard-to-pronounce names who were so dear to Paul: Epaenetus, Andronicus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and who knows how many more! The whole church! Surely, the beloved Prisca and Aquila were there! Plenty of hugging and tears! They had walked, ridden on horses, and come by chariot to welcome the discouraged prisoner. How do we know he was discouraged? "On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage" (28:16).

A dull lesson? No more!

Gamaliel's Advice

If I were as astute as Gamaliel was, I would be too wise to question his judgments. But this denser mind is brash enough to challenge his applauded advice.

The Jewish council wanted to kill the apostles whom they had arrested (Acts 5:33-39). Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law, cooled the members with advice to "keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

That cool-headed wisdom has been praised generally. But is a non-intervention policy wise in meeting the issues around us? Are we to leave problems alone to test by time whether they are of God or man by their success or failure? Is it true that all the unholy undertakings of men fail? Was it best not to oppose Mohammed, Hitler, and Stalin? And what about fighting the liquor industry, and the drug traffic, or the invading army? To say that God will take care of evil men in the judgment does not take care of the present. And that is not what Gamaliel had in mind.

Because an evil continues unabated does not mean that it is the work or will of God. We can hardly accept that the death of masses by starvation, disease, or extermination or that people dying in sin is the work or will of God. When we work to prevent or alleviate these things, we are not opposing God. Who will advise a neutral policy like Gamaliel proposed?

For disciples to explain some tragedy by shrugging, "It was just the will of God," seems very inadequate to me.

I know that some of my questions lead off in the direction of skepticism. Should we do what God could do but does not do? How responsible am I for feeding the starving in Ethiopia or Cambodia? God knows that they are starving and he could give them rain and crops, or even send manna. Must innocent people suffer due to my lack of concern or my non-involvement like Gamaliel advised? I help some, but how much does God expect of me? Should I sell my second car or give up other luxuries in order to intervene?

Maybe we need another Gamaliel to give us the answers.

Lifting Holy Hands

With little notice we usually pass over Paul's words: "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands.." (1 Tim. 2:8). Is the uplifting of hands in prayer a required ritual of acceptable worship?

The concept of raising hands to God accommodates man's thought that God is localized somewhere in the sky. Such accommodative language is common in the scriptures.

What is the purpose and meaning of lifting up holy hands? Is there some context that can help us to understand?

Paul seems to be alluding to the heave offering and votive offerings required of the Jews (Deut. 12:6, 11, 17; Num. 15:19). A votive offering is sacrificed or performed in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion. It expresses a vow, a wish, or a desire.

Holy hands were those of the priest who was consecrated to make such offerings. He was dedicated exclusively (Deut. 18). Now, we are priests individually, consecrated that we may offer sacrifices lifted toward God with holy hands. Our offerings are expressions of thanksgiving, devotion, vows, and prayers.

The uplifted hands are not empty. They present the heave offering. In context, Paul urges women to beautify themselves, not with finery, "but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion." These are hands that have comforted the sick and aged, have lifted the downtrodden, have fed the hungry, and have written checks to alleviate human need. Such things are our heave offerings, our "thank yous" to the Lord.

To say that the holy hands must not be empty is not to indicate that prayers are answered in reward to quota performance. It means that the prayers rise from hearts which demonstrate gratitude and devotion. It is the worship of the heart that is raised rather than the literal hands. Prayer is accompanied by the offering of a dedicated life.

If you wish to extend your hands upward while praying or praising, that is acceptable unless you do it out of confidence in a ritual or to impress others. If you raise your hands when praying with others but not in private prayer, it may be proper to question whether it is a street corner gesture to be seen of others.

When your life is presented to God in total dedication, your "thank you" offerings are your uplifted hands.

Passing The Curse

If you could be relieved of a disease or problem by passing it on to someone else, would it be proper for you to do it? If it would be sinful for you to use something that you own, would you be right in selling it to someone else?

When Jesus was being anointed with the very expensive ointment, the disciples became indignant. It was a sinful waste! They proposed that the ointment might have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor (Matt.26:6-9). They were willing to sell the ointment, passing the curse on to the purchaser!

Allergies

Who isn't allergic to something? Allergies are annoying but usually they are not life-threatening. What causes one to wheeze and sneeze and snort and scratch may not bother the next person. For that reason a person should not try to forbid everything that bothers him.

We have spiritual allergies also. What makes one person very uncomfortable may be enjoyed in good conscience by other persons. We have different scruples, opinions, hangups, conditioning, and peeves. These should not be life-threatening. But we hear a lot of grumbling and hollering and raving and condemning by people who want to outlaw everything that bothers them. That is bigoted and self-centered.

We cannot readily cure all of our allergies, but we can keep ourselves non-involved with the things that bother us while letting others take care of their own situations. We should not become allergic to the fact that others do not suffer from our own allergies!

I can solve my difficulty with cedar pollen by moving to an area where there are no cedars. My irritation caused by citric acid does not bother me if I eat no citrus fruits. I can remedy my allergy to perfumes by staying away from women!

Concentration on one's irritations can almost drive a person out of his mind. If my wife were drowning in the river, however, I would forget about the itchy welts caused by mosquitos and the threat of the poison ivy along the river bank. A chaplain of a cancer hospital remarked to me that people in that hospital are not concerned with doctrinal differences. What we may need is more important things to demand our attention.

The Malignancy

She was young, beautiful, energetic, charming, and loving. Disturbing symptoms developed. Diagnosis revealed internal cancer. At first there was denial. The doctors demanded chemotherapy, not as a cure, but to arrest the malignancy. That was a severe treatment which erased the beauty from her face, robbed her energy, and diminished her charm. Even with remission of the disease, she can never be quite the same.

The church of my heritage has had many admirable qualities. Disturbing symptoms became evident. The deep inward problem was seen to be a sectarian spirit. There is still much denial of that malignancy. A painful treatment is necessary to arrest it. It is painful to tear off our facade of united beauty while we are divided. There will be loss of face when we renounce our exclusive stance. There will be loss of our identity with its name of distinction when we accept all the saved. We must sacrifice patternism and restorationism, and thus our reason for being a separate body of disciples. Even if we can arrest this sectarian spirit and eliminate the legalism which produces it, the church of my heritage will never be quite the same.

Free From Church

Under this shocking heading, I want to challenge more concepts that have become sacred by our traditions.

Because Jesus died to purchase the church, I must not speak disrespectfully of it. Yet I must seek to correct its misdirections and warn of what threatens it. It is my family which I want to continue to be proud of.

All of the saved are in the one, universal congregation of God, but these saved ones have become segmented and sectarian in refusing fellowship with others whom the Lord has added. These groups have developed into separate systems with denominating names.

Those various systems have become institutionalized. When we speak of the church, most of us think of these systems. It is in that context that I want you to be free from church. I want you to be liberated from all of these authoritarian, institutionalized, systematized, organized, crystalized, and formalized concepts of the church.

There is a great movement out of those organizations. Religion is being taken from the church and recovered by the people. Church systems do not have religion; individuals do.

Change of historic institutions is slow and difficult, however, like changing the course of a ship with a paddle. There are too many vested interests that work against change. There is peer pressure to be like the rest of the sheep. There is fear and discomfort in accepting something new or different. And, not the least, reformers are not paid to reform.

Being free from church in this sense, the saved ones may lead holy lives using the gifts that God bestows upon them in the private ministry that God gives to each. That is people religion___the body of Christ in action, free from our restricting systems.

Outdated

Many things that we utilized a few years ago have gone the way of the manual typewriter, the inner tube, and the wooden chalk box. While someone may lament those things as a loss, our forsaken practices simply became impractical and were replaced by things that serve our needs better.

Through a great part of this century, the "gospel meeting" was considered to be an essential. It lasted from ten days to three weeks with morning and evening services. We got the most popular preacher available to do the honors. Most of our baptisms took place then. No more.

Those meetings were partially replaced by campaigns where the churches in a larger city would rent a municipal auditorium, engage the most dynamic preacher available, and try to make a big splash in the city. These were never very effective and have about faded away.

In my younger years, one of the big things was for members of a congregation to visit the neighboring church when it was having its big meeting. Too much church going!

How long has it been since your church had a singing school? Once they served a good purpose, but now that our public schools teach music to our children, there is little need for those singing schools___always with shaped notes.

In my youth, any congregation had to have a young people's meeting to show that it was alive. With meetings an hour before the evening services, these served a generation before the youth director was born or invented.

As I was growing up, it was common for families to have other families to eat Sunday dinner (lunch) with them. The kids had to wait while a table or two of adults ate their meal. The preacher was always invited to a meal.

Covered dish meals in fellowship came into vogue but are already losing ground. Too much trouble to cook. The cafeteria is more convenient.

As I was growing up, every man in the congregation was addressed as "Brother" and every woman as "Sister." Only familiar friends were called by the first name. I was glad to help neutralize that tradition.

I do not grieve the loss of the hour-long sermon! In uncomfortable seating in buildings too hot or too cold people would endure sermons from forty-five minutes to an hour and a half long. Scripture references were quoted by the dozen. A preacher would have been embarrassed to read his references.

These things changed because they failed to meet the needs of succeeding generations. Change is very necessary if we are going to meet the needs of people. We foul out when we accept a traditional practice as permanent. It becomes a ritual to be performed by which a person can be judged to be righteous. If we allow practical methods for one generation to become bound, we should not wonder at the loss of interest by the new generation.

Two Signatures

There is some kind of logic which says that if you are going to appoint the fox to guard the hen house, you should appoint another fox to protect the flock from the first one. At least, that is implied when we require that any check written by the treasurer of the congregation must be co-signed by another designated person.

If you cannot trust the brother, why appoint him to be the treasurer? If you cannot trust one brother, can you trust two? Perhaps the secret is to appoint as co-signers two men who don't get along together too well so they will keep a critical eye on one another!

Each member of the congregation has a right to know the detailed expenditures of the group. Even though there is no scriptural law that demands such, the law of common sense dictates it. Regular detailed financial statements reveal the integrity of the treasurer and the elders in the use of the money. The co-signer is unnecessary.

In too many instances, all the elders in a church have proven to be foxes. Even though they may give financial statements, they conceal questionable transactions under general headings or deliberately give inaccurate information. Such deceit has allowed great discrepancies and misuse of funds without the knowledge of the members.

If elders and treasurers are honest, they will want to account for each and every disbursement in such a manner that there can be no reason to question their integrity. Even though the money may be handled with true honesty, failure to keep open records gives needless grounds for suspicion.