A PLEA TO THOSE WHOM GOD HAS PROSPERED

Paul charged Timothy to "Command those who are rich in this present world...to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age..." (I Time. 7:17-19 NIV). Among our brethren are multitudes whom God hath richly blessed with material possessions. He has placed those treasures in your hands, not just so you can live in luxury or gaze upon your riches. He has entrusted you with them so that you can be a mighty helper in the work of his kingdom.  He wants you to be rich in good works.  In olden days those possess with wealth felt it part of their responsibility to the church and society to underwrite projects that would benefit humanity. Thus orphanages and hospitals were usually endowed by some charitable, prosperous person. They also saw the value of supporting missionary projects, and the publication of Christian literature that would benefit the followers of Christ.  Many books from the reformation era are dedicated to the author's benefactor who made their publication possible.

Today, the Church of Christ is locked in a deadly struggle with a dissident group of preachers and professors who have taken it upon themselves to impose "change upon" her congregations.  The resources of the largest "Christian" university among us have been tapped to publish a steady stream of books written by professors of that school. Books such as "The Crux of the Matter," published by Abilene Christian University Press, are full of deadly doctrinal poison and will work harm in any church whose leaders embrace their ideas. As always ours is a struggle for the minds and hearts of people, in our current case, those of our fellow-Christians. One of the principle weapons of this struggle will be the printing press.

To successfully combat this wave of error and block the progress of the digression it is causing, we must be able to produce well-written materials that will expose and refute their false-teachings and thus help to fortify the churches against them.  This of course takes money. This is one example of good works those whom God has prospered need to support.

	We need a series of tracts written and published on each separate item of our faith and practice currently under attack by the agents of change. Copies of these need to be sent to each of the 8,500 congregations among us so that elders will know the resources are available for their use.
	We need books written by qualified men of God that will analyze and refute the errors of the dozen or more books currently being promoted and circulated by the agents of change.
	We need to be able to send high quality gospel papers every  preacher of our churches. Each preacher needs to receive a paper that will reaffirm the fundamental principles of the faith; that will clearly explain, why we believe and practice as we have for the last 200 years.  They need a paper that will deal with the problems at hand and thus provide light and guidance to the readers.
	We need to schedule lectures or seminars in strategic cities across the country, that will address the challenges before us. Such can help brethren understand the urgency of the situation and learn. Strategies for coping with the change agents should they surface in their congregations. Congregations are needed to sponsor these sessions in their communities.
	We need to send needed literature on these issues to every missionary in foreign fields. Missionaries and their work are always prime targets of liberal movements.

For all of these urgent needs the Lord's church needs benefactors. One need not be fabulously rich to participate in this warfare for the faith of Christ. You might wish to pay for the publication of one or more tracts. $2,500 will produce some 10,000 copies of a valuable tract. $8,000 will put a good book into circulation. $15,000 could send a quality Christian journal to a thousand preachers for a year. Faithful brethren are devoting their time and energy to researching and writing these materials without remuneration, but they cannot be expected to bear the cost of publishing them. $3500 would underwrite the cost of a weekend seminar addressing the dangers currently threatening the church. For $12,000 we could send a packet of books and tracts to every missionary outside the nation.

The problem is obvious to all who care to see, the need for a response is urgent.  Good men can produce the needed materials. You need to help us publish and circulate the materials.  Can you be counted on as a benefactor of the Lord's Cause in this critical hour? Congregations, families, individuals, your help is needed if the church we love is to survive.