 GOD'S PROVISIONS FOR DAYS LIKE THESE
One of the marks of the divine origin of the Bible is that it anticipates departures from the faith that would arise and provides the antidote for them beforehand. In this same vein we note that God made prior provisions to save his church when waves of apostasy would threaten her existence. As the 21st century church faces the assaults of a determined band of liberal change agents, she has within her very nature the "survival gear" needed to save those who are determined to follow Jesus in all things.
I. Christ made each congregation to be autonomous, i.e., independent and self-governing. As the tentacles of apostasy spread through the brotherhood each congregation is free to decide if they will remain loyal to Christ or embrace the alluring gospel of change. In denominational bodies, with their central governing body and denominational control of local property, if interlopers can capture the ruling authorities, the headquarters, they can impose their will on all the congregations of that group. We have witnessed this gradual usurpation of control in the experience of many of our neighbors, particularly in the Disciples of Christ. If the forces of change prevail among us, that will have to capture each separate congregation, one at a time. If nine out of ten congregations in a given town elect to abandon the old paths of the faith and one congregation alone holds to the gospel way, they can and will survive as the faithful remnant of the Lord's church.
No one can despoil them of their property or use legal means to coerce them into conformity. We thank God for congregational autonomy and pray that his children will never let go of this precious provision.
II. The head of the church has granted freedom and independence to every man who aspires to preach his word. No one has to gain the approval of a board of examiners before he can begin to proclaim Christ. No license is required for him to serve. There is no man-made document or standard to which he must subscribe. There is no ministerial association to accuse him, nor group of preaching peers to withdraw his credentials. If there is a congregation whose leaders judge him to be worthy and capable of teaching them, he is free to do so and no one has the right to interfere. If there is no congregation that will listen to his message, he is free to go out into the highways and hedges, teach, baptize and organize them into a congregation of Christ. No diocesan bishop can forbid him to do so. No permission must be sought and obtained. Thus if all other preachers in an area succumb to the pipers of change, that one faithful brother can begin again. Like a missionary in a new field, he can gather a little band of devoted, obedient disciples and plant and nurture a Church of Christ in their midst.
If, God forbid, the Churches of Christ in American should be overcome and swept away by this new wave of apostasy, as occurred a century ago, the situation is not hopeless. God's Word is like a seed, Luke says, "the seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). So long as the Bible remains available to mankind, it is capable of producing faith in Christ. When that faith has taken root in a heart it will eventuate in obedience to Christ and thus a new Christian will be born. When additional disciples are made, the church will be restored in that community.
Let us all thank God for these unspeakable gifts that were designed by him for the preservation of his kingdom.
JHW
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