 THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE
Agents of change are boldly calling for significant changes in the beliefs, worship and practice of Churches of Christ. These changes, if implemented, will alter the fundamental nature of the church as a body of believers. Those who accept the proposed changes will no longer be congregations ordered after the New Testament of Christ, rather they will be denominational bodies like those our fathers left in generations past.
Among the beliefs and practices being challenged are:
- The nature of grace and saving faith. Is salvation experienced before baptism?
- The boundaries of Christian fellowship. Should we embrace in fellowship all who believe in Jesus regardless of their faith and practice?
- The nature of worship. Shall it be of a charismatic, emotion based type or that which we have traditionally held?
- The nature and purpose of the Lord's Supper. Is it an act of worship, a sacred memorial, or is it a dinner meal?
- The nature of Christian praise. Can we add instrumental music and use special singing programs in worship, such as choirs, solos, quartets, etc?
- The role of women in the leadership, teaching ministry and worship of the church. Should they fill these roles?
- The authority of the Bible in the life and work of the church. Is it complete, final and absolute, or is it relative, negotiable and changeable?
While all of these are significant issues, the latter point, the authority of the Bible, is greater. It is the fundamental, bedrock issue that determines our response to all the rest.
The message of the New Testament is that the church must be subject to Christ in all things (Eph. 5:23-24). The second half of the Great Commission orders us to teach converts to obey all things that Christ commanded (Matt. 28:20).
The only possible way to know his wishes and commands is through the pages of the New Treatment. Christ is founder, head of and savior of the church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22; 5:23). All authority has been vested in him (Matt. 28:18). The Scripture contains and provides us with "all things that pertain to life and godliness: (II Pet. 1:3). We are strongly warned against going "beyond what is written" (I Cor. 4:6 ASV); failing to abide "in the doctrine of Christ" (II John 9); or adding to or taking from the revelation God has given (Rev. 22:18-19). If the university professors of the change movement can succeed in undermining our faith in the Scripture their battle is won.!
It should go without saying that any preacher, any editor, any author or any Christian school that will not commit to this fundamental principle of truth should be rejected forthwith. They are unworthy of our attention, respect or fellowship and should be counted as outside the household of faith..
This is not a theoretic or hypothetical possibility. This is the fundamental issue of the current change movement. Doubters have only to read the recent books,"The Crux of the Matter and God's Holy Fire" to see this. We who love the Lord and honor his Word must by all means stand fast in the faith and not allow ourselves to be blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). If we fail this test, and those who do not hold this high view of the absolute and final authority of God's Word prevail, the Cause we love will be swept into the junk yard of oblivion.
JHW |
