In the present time, months and years past, many of the Guardian of Truth Foundation have
argued that they are practicing “individual action in concert with others” rather than
Institutionalism (Tom Roberts; Must We Divide Over Every Issue; 2008 Truth Magazine
Lectures; Open Forum; audio available upon request).  However, the moderator of the Truth
Magazine Lectures this year plainly stated the following: “We are a human institution...  We’re
not here to tell people uh, because we are some organization that they must do this or what we
are trying to find the truth, and share it with others, that’s what this forum is about” (Forum
Moderator; Must We Divide Over Every Issue; 2008 Truth Magazine Lectures; Open Forum;
(audio available upon request).  As of August 25th, 2008, the audio for these quotes is on the
Truth Magazine website (http://www.truthmagazine.com/2008_lecture_mp3_ppt.html).  If the G.
O.T. decides to remove this audio from their website (I wouldn’t be surprised if they did): SEE
BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR THE MP3 FILE.

    I listened to this open forum and I have to say, these guys are all JUST AS LIBERAL AS MAX
LUCADO, AL MAXEY, RUBEL SHELLY, etc.  They reject the Scriptures as their source of
authority and simply play on arguments twisting the Scriptures (II Peter 3:16-18).  Then, they try
to shift blame by saying that those of us asking for Scriptures for their UNAUTHORIZED
practices are being divisive.  HMMM.  Tom Roberts and Ron Halbrook sound just like every
liberal I have ever heard trying to justify their unauthorized practices as a liberty via I Corinthians
8 and Romans 14.  Their arguments allow for church gymnasiums, fellowship halls, usage of the
church’s resources for social events such as weddings and funerals (Tom Roberts explicitly
stated such in the above forum), etc. which are all the language of Ashdod (Nehemiah 13:24
and I Peter 4:11).  Then, they build their straw men and tear them down.  They talk of inviting
their adversaries to their lectureship and wonder why they didn’t come.  I don’t know who they
invited, but how could anyone come and participate in that which they oppose.  That’d be like a
whore inviting me to a strip club to talk about lust.  Here’s my invitation to all G.O.T. board
members, come on down any Tuesday or Thursday evening to El Paso, in the midst of the
assembly, and let’s see where the truth lies.  I’ll publish the audio online for all to hear.  The
church will be the institution overseeing the discussion (I Timothy 3:15) rather than a HUMAN
INSTITUTION.  No arguments, just book, chapter, and verse (I Corinthians 4:6).  We know none
can accept this invitation.  WHY NOT?  They cannot provide one Scripture to authorize their
cause!


   Ron Halbrook started his discussion by using Ecclesiastes 4:9 to justify human organizations
conducting Scriptural work.  Listen, Ecclesiastes 4:9 no more authorizes the formation of any
human organization to do the work of the church than it authorizes a third party in the marriage
bed using an argument of two women / men are better than one.  Then Ron fatally errs in using
Matthew 18:15-17 to justify his beliefs.  Why is it a fatal error to his argument?  Well, if you will
read Matthew 18:15-17 you’ll notice what “organization” God chooses to be involved in spiritual
work.  HINT - He does not say a bookstore, magazine, college, etc.!!!  

   Ron, Tom, and other liberals cannot use the Scriptures to authorize their institutions because
the Lord never authorized us to form any man-made institution to do His work either individually
or collectively funded.  These men would and have argued that mechanical instrumental music
being used in worship is sinful because it is unauthorized (Colossians 3:17).  Those in error on
the subject would throw the same arguments these guys use for their institution right back at
them.  Brethren, when I came out of Institutionalism I had to learn that my human reasoning was
flawed (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25, Jeremiah 10:23; cf. Isaiah 55:7-9).

   Ron, in his “lesson”, tried to justify the G.O.T. by saying Judas carried a money bag and that
was a treasury outside of the local church.  I guess Ron has not figured out that the church had
yet to be established (Acts 20:28; 2:47).  Then Ron tries to argue about individual and collective
action.  Again, this sounds like other liberals who argue for their views.  The extreme left argues
“there is no difference between the individual and the local church”.  These ignore I Timothy 5:
16, I Corinthians 7:2-4, and a host of other Scriptures showing the difference between individual
work and collective work (again, only through the local church).  Now Ron talks of “joint action”
to invoke his institutions.  As I said before, he’s no different than all the liberals I have ever
heard preach.  Frankly, he makes me want to puke (Psalms 139:21-22).  Like the other liberals,
Ron sets up a variety of syllogisms to conclude his unauthorized practices, but he cannot
provide God’s command, example, or necessary conclusion authorizing a human organization
being formed to carry out His work!

   Interestingly, Ron then argued that his involvement with the local church involves his
fellowship with God while his participation in human organizations does not.  I am not sure why
this point is risen, but I know for sure he does not understand that ALL WE DO involves our
fellowship with God (I John 1:3-7).  He argues that we might use I Timothy 3:15 to argue against
human institutions.  RON, the point is that you have NO AUTHORITY AT ALL FROM GOD TO
FORM ANY ORGANIZATION TO DO HIS WORK!  Brethren, I am no prophet, but I know for
sure this error will lead to more ungodliness (II Timothy 2:16).


   Since the Scriptures are all-sufficient (II Samuel 7:1-7, II Timothy 3:16-17, and II Peter 1:3),
we must therefore conclude human institutions doing God’s work is not GOOD WORK!  Notice
an inspired example of how this subject should be handled: “And there were certain men, who
were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and
they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are
defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an
offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?  And Moses said
unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you”
(Numbers 9:6-8).










     On Thursday July 17th, 2008 I turned on the television to find out the current weather
situation in northeast El Paso before leaving to head to the building.  I turned on K-Fox to find
the “Dr. Phil” show.  The show aired a program on that day titled “Living on a Prayer” (http:
//www.drphil.com/shows/show/1029).  The moment the television turned on Dr. Phil was reading
a Scripture.  He read the following: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those
of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8).

     This show was a about a couple that had seven children and they were broke.  The
husband had many business failures and so on.  Dr. Phil was trying to use the Bible as this
couple claimed to be a Bible believing people (obviously, they are not).  Dr. Phil was rightly
showing this man that he had to financially provide for his family and that his actions were
displeasing to God.  I could not believe Dr. Phil actually had the audacity to use the Bible.  You
see, Dr. Phil is opposed to good, godly living.  In fact, he opposes parents spanking their kids
(http://drphil.com/articles/article/247).  Clearly, he is not using the Bible on this subject matter
(Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 23:13-14, and Proverbs 29:15).  

What’s Dr. Phil say about the right time to divorce?  Notice: “People often ask Dr. Phil, ‘How do
I know if I'm ready to get a divorce?’ The number one thing that you have to know is this: The
time to get a divorce is when you can walk out the door with no anger, no resentment and no
bitterness.  Now you're probably saying, "Wait a minute, isn't that why you get a divorce?" No. If
you've still got anger, resentment and bitterness, you've still got unfinished business. You
should be able to walk out the door saying, "I've done everything I can do to resolve this
situation. I cannot do it. I accept that. I am moving on with my life." If you can't do that, you've got
too much unfinished emotional business” (http://drphil.com/shows/show/164/).   If Dr. Phil would
consult the Scriptures, he’d find he is wrong and that he’s a hypocrite (Matthew 19:3-9 and
Romans 7:1-6; cf. Romans 2:1-3).


     In the Scriptures we see those who only wanted the word of God when it suited their cause.  
For example, the Pharisees in questioning Jesus about divorce (Matthew 19:3-9) and the
Sadducees when trying to deny the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33) both decided to use the
Law of Moses against Jesus.  Like most who use the Scriptures for argumentation when it fits
their needs, the Pharisees and Sadducees both had perverted the Scriptures and were shown
to be wrong.  

     Think of the many examples we find today.  People love some passages of God's word,
even though they do not have an understanding of them.  Think of the many times when you
have tried to rightfully point out someone's errors to help save that person's soul (II Corinthians
5:9-11, I Corinthians 1:21, and James 5:20).  Often, you hear the following from that person:"
Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).  Ask that person if they'd like to open the
Scriptures and read the context of the passage they quoted (though often, they have no idea
where in the Bible this Scripture appears).  That individual will likely refuse (which has ALWAYS
been my experience).  They are not interested in finding that the context of Matthew 7:1-5 is
refuting judgment upon others when done in hypocrisy.  They do not want to study the subject
and see that we are actually commanded to judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).  You see,
some want to use the Scriptures as their defense, but they are really not at all interested in what
God has to say about anything.

      One man says that we are saved by calling on the name of the Lord while citing (Romans
10:13).  However, when he is shown that calling on the name of the Lord explicitly includes
baptism into Christ (Acts 22:16), he refuses further discussion.  One lady says that all women
must wear artificial veils to pray to God, citing the eleventh chapter of the first letter to the
Corinthians.  When shown that a woman's long hair is given to her for a covering [literally a veil]
(I Corinthians 11:14-15), she is ready to end the discussion.  What do the three examples stated
all have in common?  They all have come to a conclusion which fits what they already believed
and are not at all interested in finding the real truth.  To these Jesus declares: "Why do ye not
understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word" (John 8:43).  However, there
are even those who use the Scriptures aright, howbeit only to suit their needs.  

     I once had a discussion with a man who rightfully established that God is the creator of all
the earth (Isaiah 40:28).  This man knew a lot of Bible information about creation.  He knew that
God created the Heaven and the earth in six, twenty-four hour days (Genesis 1:1-2:2 and
Exodus 20:11).  This man knew that nothing was created without Jesus being involved (John 1:
1-5).  He fascinated me at times knowing things such as the world was created by the word of
God, not physical things (Hebrews 11:3).  This man told me that he had studied the Scriptures
through many times.  Yet, when we began to discuss his responsibility to God (Ecclesiastes 12:
13-14) he was no longer interested in a Bible discussion.  He said he was a JW (of the
Jehovah's Witnesses false religion), but he did not want to discuss the errors he believed in.  
You see, this gentleman only enjoyed the Bible subjects of which he did not find a responsibility
towards himself.  He did not want to consider that his knowledge was limited.  Like Dr. Phil,
many pick up a verse and run with it without ever caring about what God said in that or other
Scriptures.  Why?  It just fit their point to be made that day!


     Some of our "brethren" are just like Dr. Phil.  The Bible suits them with Acts 2:38, but not II
Thessalonians 3:6; 14-15.  They like Romans 16:16, but not Hebrews 10:23-25.  They'll scream
aloud quoting Matthew 28:19, but will not consider for a moment Jude 3-4.  Some "brethren" will
speak loudly of Acts 20:7, but they'll refuse I Corinthians 11:33.  John 3:16 is a marching call,
but Romans 12:9 may never flow from their lips.  It must be that all of the Scriptures suit us all of
the time, for they will judge us in the end (John 12:48).  If we'll use the sword of the Spirit
(Ephesians 6:17), let's live it too (I Corinthians 9:27 and I Timothy 4:16).
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XLIX  ~   August 31st, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins
(Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church
of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47 and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful (Colossians
1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study:
brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
G.O.T. Openly Admits They Are A “Human Institution”
By: Brian A. Yeager
Conclusion
The Liberals Forming Institutions Cannot Have A Bible Discussion!
"The Bible Suits Me Today"
By: Brian A. Yeager
There Are Too Many Dr. Phil’s In This World
Conclusion
The forum mentioned in this article can be listened to here:
To download it in a MP3 File, right click here.

More articles exposing the errors of human institutions like
Florida College, Camps, G.O.T, and Institutionalism in
general are available here: Studies of Institutionalism