From the Pen of Paul

Paul told the elders from Ephesus that soon "after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). Jesus had warned in His sermon on the mount, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15). Peter said, "there shall be false teachers among you" (II Pet. 2:1). John warned, "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).

It should come as no surprise that the Lord's people have always faced problems, divisions, and wrangling. There have always been "issues" to deal with. Problems, teachings, and practices had to be dealt with, whether it was the "murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration" (Acts 6), or the problem caused when "certain men which came down from Judea and taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (Acts 15). Several of the epistles in the New Testament were written to correct these issues. Some taught that the resurrection is past already (II Timothy 2:18); others said that there is no resurrection of the dead (I Cor. 15:12).

However, when all of this is considered, it still seems to me that the Lord's people are more splintered and divided into little fragmented groups and "issues" than ever before during my lifetime. Some things given in the Scriptures are much easier to understand than are others. Peter said of Paul's writings, "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (II Peter 3:16). Notice Peter did not say everything Paul said was hard to understand; nor did he say that these things could not be understood; but obviously he is saying that some things written by Paul are much easier to understand than are others.

We have always had difficulty understanding the subject of the Holy Spirit and how he dwells in man and how he works in and for man. We have differed, sometimes strongly, about the "gift of the Holy Ghost" in Acts 2:38. One only has to go back and read the writings of Nichols and Woods to see this. We have a number of books in print by capable men on the subject of the Holy Spirit with very different conclusions. We have differences over the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have differed over how heaven will be; will we know each other? And what about those who are lost from our family? We have differed over the war issue. In days gone by, this was a BIG issue; I don't believe it is considered nearly so big today.

Should I draw the line of fellowship with a brother because he does not believe the same thing that I do about how the Holy Spirit dwells dwells in the Christian; what if he differs with me about what the Holy Spirit does for the Christian and "how" he accomplishes it? Are these issues over which we should divide? Of course, we are talking about situations where neither view conflicts with Scripture or leads one to claim miraculous help or to teach things not authorized.

Brethren, let all of us study diligently these issues that are harder to understand; but let us be merciful and kind toward those who may not be as "knowledgeable" as we are. Let us all remember that in dealing with some matters, "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (I Cor. 8:1). If the 15 characteristics of love (8 positive and 7 negative) were put into practice in our lives, all wrangling, all divisions, all envy, all jealousy, all evil speakings, and all other bad character traits would disappear. So let each of us work to create in our own hearts "the more excellent way" (I Cor. 12:31).
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

July 9, 2007

Dear Mr. Plemmons:

I am answering your letter about animals being in heaven. Your articles have appeared in the Herald-Citizen in June, 2007. I shall deal with your material point-by-point. I do not intend to carry on with this subject because it is of little importance in my judgment.

1. Your reasoning would put spiders, lice, ticks, fleas, scorpions, and all living things in heaven. See Genesis 1:20-21. The Hebrew word for soul is used here and translated life. You say soul means they will live forever. This is false. You say my statement is an obvious "wisecrack." It obviously exposes your false position and your book you have tried to sell.
2. You say it appears that I might be an argumentative person. I am when such is necessary. What are you? Your last writing about animals being in heaven was very long and argumentative. We need more preachers who know the Bible and who will stand up for it without fear or favor.
3. You say you make no judgments about me and then go on judging. What kind of a deal is this?
4. Mr. Plemmons misapplies Psalms 36:6. God does preserve man and beast while on the earth. He gives them sustenance but this is a far cry from saving a beast in heaven. We want to see the Bible verse that says the beast is saved eternally in heaven. God says this about man but not about the beast. See Matthew 25:46; Luke 12:4-5.
5. Mr. Plemmons misses Revelation 19:11. John saw a vision in heaven. John saw a chain vision in heaven (Rev. 20:1). He also saw a key in heaven (Rev. 20:1). The white horse John saw symbolizes just as key and chain symbolize.
6. All the references to Revelation are pulled out of their context. Mr. Plemmons is a poor Bible interpreter. Will there be marriages in heaven? Revelation talks about the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). Mr. Plemmons would have a lamb marrying something in heaven. Will it be a marriage of two lambs or a lamb marrying a goat? Christ said there would not be any marrying in heaven (Matt. 22:28-32).
7. God does take care of the birds on earth as well as the flowers and all other living creatures. This is not pertaining to heaven at all.
8. Mr. Plemmons totally misses the meaning of Romans 8:19-23. Paul uses figurative speech in this passage. He is here talking about the suffering in this present world and represents the creatures as suffering also. This world has some terrible things to suffer which includes the animals, flowers, trees, etc. There is much figurative speech in the Bible.
9. Animals do have a spirit of life or soul but the Bible nowhere teaches that animals have a soul that will never die. The Bible teaches "thou shalt not kill" (Exod. 20:13). Is it wrong to kill animals and eat them? The great difference in man and animals is man is made in the image of God and animals are not. Mr. Plemmons seems to want to make animals equal to man and so does the woman who said she did not want to go any place where there are no animals. She had better get ready.
10. The physical life of man and creatures is is sometimes alluded to as soul. This is true in Job 12:7-10. The word breath qualifies this in this verse showing it has to do with physical life only in this text.

All animals live and die like Rover the dog—they are dead all over. But for man, he lives and dies and after death the judgment (Heb. 9:27). I intend to use my money to buy good books that will help me save my soul and the souls of others. I intend to let the dogs and cats take care of themselves if they have good masters. Would Mr. Plemmons take in a dog or cat before he would take in a human being? He should know better than the position he is taking.
—Malcolm L. Hill