INOCULATING YOUR CONGREGATION AGAINST THE CHANGE DISEASE

Sooner or later every congregation of God's people will be confronted by someone wishing to promote the agenda of the "change movement."  Rather than wait until the dangerous moment arrives, we need to act now to inoculate our members so they will recognize the symptoms and reject it upon sight.  The following suggestions will help to immunize your congregation beforehand.

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Your preacher needs to present an extended series of lessons on the fundamentals of the faith. He needs to touch on every point of faith, worship and practice that is being challenged by the promoters of change.  This should be repeated on a yearly basis.

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Lessons need to be presented that remind brethren of the danger of false teachers and false doctrine.

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Elders could plan a retreat for the men of the church where the dangers of the change movement could be pointed out and  the specific errors of it be discussed.

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Elders might wish to invite a guest speaker who is informed on this issue to come and spend a week end with the congregation. It would be most important that he be a faithful man of wisdom, experienced in dealing with error, lest he do more harm than good.

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Each year a quarter of Bible Classes should be devoted to studying the distinctives of the church revealed in the Scripture.

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A series of tracts should be purchased that address the many points under attack by the promoters of change. Each week each family should receive a copy and be asked to read it.  It could then be the basis of the Bible class or sermon the following week.

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A mature sister whose faith is strong and whose understanding of the Word is substantial should be assigned to teach a course for the Ladies' Bible Class on God's plan for women in the church.  This should address the challenges of those who wish to place women in leadership roles. The same materials should be presented in any other classes for women from high school and up.

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Books addressing the errors of the change movement and others setting forth the Biblical basis for our faith, worship and practice should be purchased and placed in the church library. Notice of these should be placed in the church bulletin and perhaps mentioned in the announcements. In larger congregations several copies of significant books should be ordered.

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The elders should have a sit down discussion with their minister and other staff members, especially youth and campus workers making it clear that they do not accept the agenda of the change agents, nor will they allow it to be introduced into the life of the congregation.

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A similar session should be conducted with deacons and all Bible class teachers.

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A statement from the elders should be presented to the congregation, preferably in person on Sunday morning stating their position and determination to not allow the change program to be brought into the church.  This should be printed in the church bulletin or mailed to each family of the congregation.

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It should be made a matter of policy that no one will be considered for work with the congregation who is sympathetic with the change agenda.

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The same rule should apply to anyone considered for an invitation as a guest speaker.

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Elders must stay on high alert for the foreseeable future. Such movements take years to run their course. The fact that a church was rock solid ten years ago is no guarantee that it will be so ten years hence.  

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No brother should be added to the eldership who is unsure of his convictions on this crucial matter. A divided leadership will eventually be a defeated leadership.

Elders,  remember that they who hesitate or procrastinate may well lose that which is most precious to them

 

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February 2005 Issue

 

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