K Neill Foster

Welcome to Classic Christianity

First published by Christian Publications, Inc., 3825 Hartzdale Drive,Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 Republished by www.kneillfoster.com in 2005. K. Neill Foster, Publisher. Paul L. King, Editor. A.W. Tozer, 1897-1963, Editorial Voice.


WELCOME TO:
#24 CLASSIC-CHRISTIANITY/THE E-ZINE


CLASSIC-CHRISTIANITY/THE INDEX
THEME: LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTH
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1) THE PUBLISHER ON "ATROPHIED MUSCLES OF TRUTH"
2) THE EDITOR ON "HOLDING TO THE OLD TRUTHS"
3) A.W. TOZER ON "TRUTH MUST BE LIVED"
4) THOMAS À KEMPIS ON "THE TRUER WAY"
5) WILLIAM LAW ON "THE ONLY WAY TO THE QUEST FOR TRUTH"
6) RECOMMENDED READING
7) FRANCOIS FENELON ON "LIVING OUT GOD'S TRUTH"
8) CHARLES SPURGEON ON "SPEAKING THE TRUTH"
9) HANNAH WHITALL SMITH ON "THINKING THE TRUTH AS VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION"
10) ANDREW MURRAY ON "THE SPIRIT LEADS US INTO TRUTH"
11) OSWALD CHAMBERS ON "TRUTH IS DOING THE RIGHT THING"
12) RECOMMENDED READING
13) OSWALD CHAMBERS ON "DANGER IN SEEING THE TRUTH"
14) A.B. SIMPSON ON "THE DIVINE LIBRARIAN--OUR PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TRUTH"


1) THE PUBLISHER ON "ATROPHIED MUSCLES OF TRUTH"
The importance of truth as an integral part of Christian character cannot be overstated. As a believer, living a life of truth is to emulate the Master. Tozer once said, "Unused muscles are of no worth to a body." Neither are Christians without integrity.


2) THE EDITOR ON "HOLDING TO THE OLD TRUTHS"

This issue concludes the third in a series on truth. Truth is not merely an abstract philosophical concept; it is a way of life. Living a life of truth means a life of integrity, honesty, trustworthiness. Truth is reality, not artificiality. When we understand the nature of truth and come to know the Ultimate Source of Truth, we can walk in the truth. We will know the truth and the truth will set us free! That truth is ancient and it is timeless.

With this issue CLASSIC-CHRISTIANITY completes four years of publication. Due to a re-assessing of Web strategies, this will also be the last issue of CLASSIC-CHRISTIANITY. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching these classic leaders and trust that you have benefited from their thoughts and teachings. I loved reading these classic writings before I was asked to edit this e-zine, and I love reading them even more now. I hope it has stirred you, as it has me, to seek out the writings of these leaders. There is so much relevant, timely and timeless truth from these ancient words. We conclude the publication of CLASSIC-CHRISTIANITY with the words of E.M. Bounds that we cited in the very first issue: "Hold to the old truths--double distilled!"


3) A.W. TOZER (1897-1963) ON "TRUTH MUST BE LIVED"

For a long time I have believed that truth, to be understood, must be lived; that Bible doctrine is wholly ineffective until it has been digested and assimilated by the total life. . . . Truth in the Scriptures is more than a fact. A fact may be detached, impersonal, cold and totally disassociated from life. Truth, on the other hand, is warm, living and spiritual. A theological fact may be held in the mind for a lifetime without it having any positive effect upon the moral character; but truth is creative, saving, transforming, and it always changes the one who receives it into a humbler and holier man.

At what point, then, does a theological fact become for the one who holds it a life-giving truth? At the point where obedience begins. When faith gains the consent of the will to make an irrevocable committal to Christ as Lord, truth begins its saving, illuminating work; and not a moment before. . . .

The dead church holds to the shell of truth without surrendering the will to it, while the church that wills to do God's will is immediately blessed with a visitation of spiritual powers. . . . Truth cannot aid us until we become participators in it. We only possess what we experience.

A.W. Tozer, THAT INCREDIBLE CHRISTIAN (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1964), 92-94.


4) THOMAS À KEMPIS (1380-1471) ON "THE TRUER WAY"

A humble knowledge of yourself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning. . . . Truly, at the day of judgment, we shall not be examined on what we have read, but what we have done, not how well we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived. . . .

He is truly great, who is great in charity. He is truly great who is little in himself, and who makes no account of any height of honor. He is truly wise, who accounts all earthly things as dung, that he might gain Christ. And he is truly learned, who does the will of God and forsakes his own will.

Thomas à Kempis, OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1973), 7-8.


5) WILLIAM LAW (1686-1761) ON "THE ONLY WAY TO THE QUEST FOR TRUTH"

Truth, my friend, whatever you may think of it, is no less than the savior and redeemer of the world. . . . Search and look where you will, this denial of self is the one only possible way to the truth. For nothing has separated us from truth, nothing stands betwixt us and truth, but this self of an earthly life, which is not from God, but from our wandering out of our first created state. . . .

Would you therefore be a disciple of truth, you must not, with Pilate, ask, "What is truth?" or consult the schools, how you shall form an idea of it: but you must alter your life, put a stop to all earthly lusts, renounce all that you are, and have from self; give up all the workings of your own reason, and your own will; and then, and then only, are you fitted for that unction from above which can teach you all things. But till Christ, who is the one fountain of life and light, be opened in you; it is in vain, that you rise up early, and late take rest, in quest of truth; for he himself has said, "Without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5, KJV).

William Law, THE WAY TO DIVINE KNOWLEDGE ((Albany, OR: AGES Software, 1999), 66.


6) RECOMMENDED READING

A.W. Tozer, PATHS TO POWER
ISBN 0875091903

This volume urges Christians to compare their motives and methods with the plumb line of biblical truth and encourages them to obtain enabling through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Order from Christian Publications by calling 1-800-233-4443 (in North America) or fax 1-717-761-7273 or web: www.christianpublications.com.


7) FRANCOIS FENELON (1651-1715) ON "LIVING OUT GOD'S TRUTH"

As you read a passage from the Scriptures, pause after each verse or phrase to hear what God might be saying. Consider how Jesus practices what you are reading. Think how other believers live out God's truth. Consider what may keep you from living out the truth yourself. As you sense your inability to live out some truth, come before God humbly and silently. See clearly how incapable you are. Ask God to live His life within you, and to do for you all that you cannot do yourself. He will certainly finish the work He started in you.

Francois Fenelon, THE SEEKING HEART (Sargent, GA: The SeedSowers Christian Books Publishing House, 1992), 69.


8) CHARLES SPURGEON (1834-1892) ON "SPEAKING THE TRUTH"

There are persons who cannot brook to speak the truth. To them two must always be twenty; to their eyesight the faults of any neighbor are crimes; and the virtues of any, except their special favorites, are always tingled with vice; naturally they have a malicious judgment toward others, they are envious of anything that is honorable in their fellow man. Now, what do you say, sir? Are you willing to be made whole, and from this hour to speak nothing but the truth towards God and towards man? I am afraid that many a tongue that is glib now would have little to say if it said nothing but the truth, and many a man might and would, if he were honest enough to say it, refuse the benediction of being made perfectly truthful.

Charles G. Spurgeon, 1000 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1976), 476.


9) HANNAH WHITALL SMITH (1832-1911) ON "THINKING THE TRUTH AS VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION"

An old writer says, "All discouragement is from the devil." I wish every Christian would take this as a motto, and realize that he must flee from discouragement as he would from sin. But if we fail to realize the truth about temptation, this is impossible. . . . If, when the wicked suggestions come, we turn from them at once, as we would from wicked thoughts, and pay no more attention to them than we would to the talk, we do not sin. But if we carry them on in our minds, and roll them under our tongues, and dwell on them with a half consent of our will to them as true, then we sin. . . . If we begin to think that these enticings are actual sin on our part, then the battle is half lost already, and the sin can hardly fail to gain a complete victory.

Hannah Whitall Smith, THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell, 1942), 87.


10) ANDREW MURRAY (1828-1917) ON "THE SPIRIT LEADS US INTO TRUTH"

In His teaching and guiding into the truth, the Spirit does not give us only thoughts and words from a book or a teacher outside of us. Instead, the Spirit enters the secret roots of our lives, plants the truth of God there as a seed, and dwells in us as divine life. When this hidden life is nourished by faith, He strengthens it. Then, it grows stronger and spreads its branches throughout our whole being. . . . And then, having possessed us from within, He guides us into all the truth. . . .

The Spirit opens our eyes to the reason why so much Bible reading, Bible knowledge and Bible preaching has little fruit unto true holiness. It is because the Bible is studied with a wisdom that is not from above. God was not waited upon nor was wisdom asked for. The mark of the Spirit of truth was lacking. The Spirit of truth is silent. . . .

These thoughts suggest to us the great danger of the Christian life--seeking to know the truth in God's word without the distinct waiting on the Spirit of truth in the heart.

Andrew Murray, THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1984), 103, 105.


11) OSWALD CHAMBERS (1872-1917) ON "TRUTH IS DOING THE RIGHT THING"

Intellect asks, "What is truth?" as if truth were something that could be stated in words. "I am . . . the Truth," said Jesus. The only way we get at Truth is by life and personality. When a man is up against things it is no use for him to try and work it out logically, but let him obey, and instantly he will see his way through. Truth is moral, not intellectual. We perceive Truth by doing the right thing, not by thinking it out. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. . . ." Men have tried to get at the truth of Christianity head-first, which is like saying you must think how you will live before you are born. We instantly see the absurdity of that, and yet we expect to reason out the Christian life before we have been born into the realm of Jesus Christ. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3, KJV). If ever we are to see the domain where Jesus lives and enter into it, we must be born again, become regenerated by receiving the Holy Spirit; then we shall find that Truth is not in a creed or a logical statement, but in Life and Personality.

Oswald Chambers, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF OSWALD CHAMBERS: BAFFLED TO FIGHT BETTER (Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2000), 82.


12) RECOMMENDED READING

Julie-Allyson Ieron, STAYING TRUE IN A WORLD OF LIES
ISBN 0889652058

This book encourages readers--especially those in the workplace--to stay true in all situations to their God-given natures and to their Christian commitment.

Order from Christian Publications by calling 1-800-233-4443 (in North America) or fax 1-717-761-7273 or web: www.christianpublications.com.


13) OSWALD CHAMBERS (1872-1917) ON "DANGER IN SEEING THE TRUTH"

There is a danger of seeing the truth and the true clearly with our minds, while the life and character lag woefully behind. In Christian work who has not met with clearness in verbal doctrine, almost dictatorial clearness, and wrong, almost quite wrong, attitudes in life and conduct? "He that doeth truth cometh to the light" (John 3:21, KJV). "Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice" (John 18:37, KJV).". . . that we know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 5:20, KJV). These passages make it clear that being "of the truth" refers to a condition of character. Much is written about our Lord speaking so simply that anyone could understand, and we forget that while it remains true that the common people heard Him gladly, no one, not even His own disciples, understood Him until after the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the reason being that a pure heart is the essential requirement for being "of the truth." "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

Oswald Chambers, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF OSWALD CHAMBERS: GOD'S WORKMANSHIP (Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2000), 425.


14) A.B. SIMPSON (1843-1919) ON "THE DIVINE LIBRARIAN--OUR PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TRUTH"

A prominent member of the House of Representatives, speaking about the inestimable value of the National Library of Congress, was asked how it was possible for a busy member, without much study and labor, to know how to use it effectively and to be able always to find the right volume or page where a given subject was discussed. "Oh," he replied, "that is made perfectly easy for us by our invaluable librarian who knows every book and subject. All we have to do is to send a little page from our desk in the House with a note for him requesting the best authority on any subject we require, and he immediately comes back with the right book and marked at the very spot where we need the information."

Blessed be God, we have a Divine Librarian who understands the Bible better than we ever can and who has come to be our Monitor and Guide, not only into its meaning but also into its practical application to every need of life. "When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).

A.B. Simpson, THE GENTLE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1983), 36.

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VOL. V, ISSUE 1, February 1, 2002
Archives on www.kneillfoster.com.

Republished by www.kneillfoster.com 2005.