Change Movement Sermons Series

In Athens, Paul encountered and engaged the intellectuals of that seat of worldly  wisdom. Luke tells us the Athenians "spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing" (Acts 17:21).  As I pour over the writings of our agents of change I am impressed with their similarity to those ancient philosophers.  I see them glorying in their intellectual attainments.  I note their tendency to question, challenge and reject any and everything held by brethren who preceded them.  I see their obsession to find and try things new and different in religion.  Strangely, many of the changes they propose have been around for years, even generations. They have been tested, found wanting and rejected by those who know and believe the truth of God's Word (I Tim. 4:3).

* They have discovered the doctrine of salvation by grace alone, the  work of God from beginning to end.  But this is not new; it is old Calvinism, 500 years old.
* They think they have found salvation by faith alone. Sola fide!  But neither is this new.  It was the message and marching song of Martin Luther and his followers.
* They claim to have discovered that baptism is not essential to salvation, rather it is a declaration that one has been saved by grace through faith. This however is not new.  It has long been preached by Baptist preachers.
* They say they have discovered that rather than having one visible church on earth, Christ has one invisible church consisting of hundreds of differing denominational bodies.  But this is an ancient doctrine, the theme of all denominational bodies for over 400 years.
* They have discovered that racism is a sin and they make allusion to it in virtually every presentation.  But this is not new.  It is as old as the Bible and has been widely preached and practiced by our brethren for the last 40 years.  Many of the change agents were mute on the subject until the battle was fought and won and now they bang their brethren for being tardy in dealing with the issue.
* They have discovered that our sisters have been deprived by not being allowed to lead us in worship, to teach our men, to preach and serve our congregations as deacons.  But this is the long held theme of such groups as the Nazarenes, Pentecostals and Disciples of Christ. It is not new at all. Our change agents are just a hundred years late in getting around to it.
* They have discovered the joys of instrumental music in worship; of choirs, solists and performing groups. But the Christian Church discovered this a century ago,  the Catholic Church 900 years and the Protestants at least 200 years before.

Who knows what new things they may find tomorrow.  But their pattern of conduct indicates that like a child with a  kaleidoscope, they will continue to look for and embrace every new and exciting change.  The day will eventually come when they will have completely lost their identity as New Testament Churches. As they journey into oblivion, all who truly love Christ and his church will be "stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58).