| JOHN WADDEY, EDITOR
Published by the Church of Christ, 12213 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374 Volume 1, Number 8
April 1, 2002 |
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Table of Contents: 1. WHEN IS A CHURCH OF CHRIST NOT A CHURCH OF CHRIST?
There is a Church of Christ of the Philippines, a denomination that bears no resemblance or relation the church of Christ of which we are part. There is a Protestant denomination called the United Church of Christ. In the South one encounters the Immanuel Church of Christ, a radical Pentecostal body. The International Church of Christ is a denomination with its headquarters at Boston, governed by men who fancy themselves apostles of Christ. Many have had the experience of entering a meeting house with the name Church of Christ over the door, only to find an organ, a choir and a reverend pastor within.
In reality it was a Christian Church, in spite of the name. The name on a church building or on the deed of trust is not sufficient to make a worshiping group truly a church of Christ. Nor does the fact that the people choose to call themselves by that Biblical name necessarily make them actually a church that Christ will own and accept.
To be a church of Christ, certain basic essentials must be met. The disciples must be born again by the birth of water and Spirit or they cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). They must have been buried with Christ in their baptism (Rom. 6:3-4) for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 22:16). It is that one baptism (Eph. 4:4) that puts people into the one body or church of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). They must recognize Jesus to be head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22) and submissive to his authority (Heb. 5:8-9). They must be willing to worship and serve the Lord according to his revealed will (Luke 6:46).
The question posed in our title is pertinent because of problems that have surfaced among us in the past ten years. There are people who still wear the name Church of Christ who have long since abandoned the very truths that identify a congregation as a church of Christ. Regardless of the name a body of people might wear, a church is not truly a church of Christ if any or all of the following factors be evident among them: - If they no longer accept the New Testament of Christ as the ultimate and absolute authority in determining matters of faith and practice. The words of Christ will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).
- If a congregation no longer worships according to the New Testament pattern. This is true whether it is in their communion, their song worship, their day for sacred assembly or any other aspect of worship.
- When a congregation is no longer content to be governed as Christ ordained. There is no acceptable alternative to elders and deacons leading His church (Tit. 1:5).
- When a body of people no longer teach sinners to be saved in Christ's appointed way. Grace and faith can never eliminate the need for obedience and specifically for baptism in salvation.
- When a body of people despise and ridicule Christ's church, his doctrine, his worship and his faithful servants they make it clear that they are not a congregation of Christ's people, regardless of the name they may wear.
When any or all of these conditions are found in the life and teaching of a church that identifies itself as a church of Christ, it is a case of false identity or at the very least, mistaken identity. Remember the congregation at Ephesus? Without genuine repentance they would have ceased to be a church of Christ (Rev. 2:1-5). The church in Sardis had a name...but they were dead in the eyes of the Lord (Rev. 3:1). JHW 2. HEROES WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR US In 47 years in the brotherhood of Churches of Christ I have been privileged to meet, hear and know many of the men who proved themselves heroes of the faith. They loved God wholeheartedly, and led thousands to the Savior. They
built up the churches in which we now serve. While this list is not comprehensive, it is representative of what preachers of the church of which we are part believed and did in their labors for the Master. - B. C. Goodpasture preached until his death when he was some 83 years old. He served as an elder in the Hillsboro church in Nashville. For upwards of 50 years he edited the Gospel Advocate, the most influential gospel paper
ever published among us. He loved the church and believed that we need to keep our ties with those who had preceded us in the kingdom. He published scores of great books by our pioneer preachers so we could understand how the church began and grew here in America and the message they preached. - Gus Nichols preached for the Sixth Ave. Church in Jasper, AL for most of his life but his influence was felt throughout the Southeastern part of the nation. He was a great evangelist and led several thousand to salvation in Christ. He planted numerous congregations in North Alabama. Not only was he a great preacher, he was a great debater, often defending the faith against the teachers of error. He was humble as a little child.
- James D. Bales was a towering scholar among us. Most of his career was spent as a professor at Harding University. He wrote more than 100 wonderful books. He conducted numerous debates, especially with unbelievers. His knowledge of God's Word and related subjects was legendary.
- Batsell B. Baxter devoted most of his years to teaching at David Lipscomb College. In addition, he preached for the great Hillsboro congregation. For years he was the featured speaker on the Herald of Truth radio and T. V. broadcasts. He was known, respected and loved for his loyalty to Christ, his
masterful preaching and his humility. The outreach of his preaching was greater than any other man among us. - Guy N. Woods spent most of his years conducting evangelistic meetings. He was the most effective debater of his generation. He was a masterful writer and logician and in later years served as editor of the Gospel Advocate. He
wrote adult Sunday School materials for years. For some 20 years he conducted the Open Forum at the Freed-Hardeman College Lectureships. - L. O. Sanderson was the most prominent song-writer and editor of hymnals in his generation. For years he served the Gospel Advocate in the preparation of their several hymnals. Being a gifted writer, teacher and leader of music,
he worked diligently to see that the songs in our books reflected truth and not error in their lyrics and that they actually contributed to the worship
experience of those who sang them. - Otis Gatewood was the best know missionary of the post WWII period. He had proven himself in his mission work in Utah's Mormon country where he converted many and planted several congregations. Following the war, he led a
group of dedicated young missionaries into Germany. Many of the churches we now have in Europe owe their existence to his wonderful influence. He refused to allow the Iron Curtain of Communism to keep him out of Eastern
Europe and Russia and at great risk to himself he led the way in planting the church there as well. He was a scholar as well as a great organizer and leader. He was honored by the governments of Germany and Russia.
All of these heroes of the faith believed that the church of which they were part was the church of Christ revealed in the New Testament. They believed that denominationalism was wrong. They viewed the New Testament of Christ as
the only rule of faith and practice for God's people. They all preached that salvation by grace was available only to those who in faith, repented and were baptized for the remission of their sins. They all taught that in worship, we are to sing without instrumental accompaniment and that we are to commune each Lord's Day. They were committed to the principle of restoring
the original faith and practice of the apostolic church. They were unwilling to compromise with religious error. "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: Ask thy father, and he will show thee; thine elders, and
they will tell thee" (Deut. 32:7). May we learn from these great heroes. JHW 3. GOD'S REMNANT Scripture teaches that God has always had a faithful few in the earth who served him. That small group is described as a remnant, i.e., "A small fragment; an end of a bolt of cloth; of good quality but small in size." - In Noah's day the remnant consisted of Noah and his family; just eight souls (Gen. 6:5-10).
- In Sodom and Gomorrah the remnant was only four souls (I Pet. 2:6-7).
- In the days of the Exodus, of those adult Hebrews who escaped Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were counted faithful to enter the promised land (Num. 14:29-30).
- Throughout their history, the great majority of the Hebrews refused to walk in the paths of God. In Elijah's day God had only seven thousand who had not bowed unto the image of Baal (I Kings 19:18). Isaiah told his generation that there was only "a very small remnant" who were faithful (1:9). Just a remnant survived the Babylonian Captivity to return home to Canaan (Ezek. 6:8).
- Jesus never expected the vast majority of people to follow him. "For narrow is the gate and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." (Matt. 7:14). "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14). Paul affirmed that today there is "a remnant according to God's election of grace" (Rom. 11:5).
It is the faithful few who always have and always will carry the Cause of Christ forward.
One is not predestined or programmed to be part of the remnant. It is a matter of personal conviction, based on teaching and guidance. When we preach the gospel, those who believe and choose to be baptized are saved (Mk. 16:15-16). Like newborn babes they must long for the sincere milk of God's word (I Pet. 2:2). To receive the reward for the remnant, we must be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10).
Only God knows for sure if a brother or sister is truly part of his remnant. He only can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12-13). We can only judge by the fruit they bear if people are part of God's remnant (Matt. 7:16-21). Each of us must examine ourselves to see if we are part of the faithful remnant (I Cor. 11:28).
This truth presents many lessons for us today. - A large church is not necessarily a faithful church.
- That a body of people is small is no reflection on their standing with God. "It is the remnant that shall be saved" (Rom. 9:27).
- That the majority of people may believe a certain doctrine is not proof it is acceptable to God. It may be just the opposite.
- That the wealthy, highly educated or powerful do not embrace a particular teaching is no proof it is not a true principle of the Christian faith. Many prefer the broad gate.
- We must not expect everyone to follow Jesus. We should not be discouraged when the majority turns its back and only a remnant chooses to follow the Master.
We cannot expect everyone who makes a profession of faith to be wholly committed to Christ to the end. They never have and never will. JHW "The men of the past had convictions, while we moderns have only opinions"
(H. Heine). "Study the past if you would divine the future.”
(Confucius).  |
4. ELDERS: A PROFILE
Every mature church is expected to have elders. To reach this goal, we must understand just what kind of men they are to be and what they are to do. The names God chose to describe the leaders of his church, give us that information.
Leaders of God's church are called elders (Acts 20:17). This word tells us that our leaders are to be selected from those who are older in years and in the faith. This assures us that they will be men of maturity. They will be likely be wiser, more settled, more disciplined in behavior and more rooted in the faith.
Those who lead are called bishops (I Tim. 3:1). Bishop means "overseer" and tells us that elders are expected to supervise or superintend the church and its activities. An overseer does not do all the work himself, rather he sees that the work is properly done by those under his guidance. This tells us that elders are vested with authority to make decisions for the flock. We are expected to obey their leadership (Heb. 13:17).
God's leaders are called pastors (Eph. 4:11). A pastor is a shepherd. They lead, feed, care for and protect God's flock. Sheep must submit to and follow the leadership of their shepherd or they will suffer harm, or even perish. God's shepherds, "feed the church." (Acts 20:28), i.e., they are expected to be capable teachers of his word. It is their responsibility to keep a close watch on the members of their flock and rescue any that might go astray. It is their duty to discipline members who become unruly in their conduct.
Leaders of Christ's church are described as watchmen (Acts 20:31). This imagery is borrowed from the Old Testament (Ezek. 3:17) . Like God's prophets, elders must constantly be on watch lest any harm befall their flock. They must watch for false teachers, doctrines and practices that would harm the church, or would turn members away from Christ.
Blessed is that church that has godly elders to lead it in God's service. JHW  |
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5. PRAYING TO SAINTS "My church teaches that we should pray to saints for help. What does the
Bible say about this?" Emily Dear Emily:
Nowhere in Scripture do we find instructions or approval for this practice. We are told however that there is "One God and one mediator between God and man, himself man, Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). Prayers through the Lord Jesus can certainly avail, but there in no other mediator in a position to help us.
The Catholic doctrine of praying to departed saints is explained in detail in the Catholic Encyclopedia. They appeal to the teaching of notable churchmen from the third and forth centuries and to the Church Councils such as Chalcedon (451 AD). Interestingly, the Catholic Encyclopedia says, of Jesus, "He is not our sole intercessor nor advocate, nor our sole mediator by way of supplication" Vol. II, p. 364, (1907 edition). If you call upon the God of heaven through his Son Jesus, then you do not need any other mediators to assist you. JHW 6. A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR If you find any of our articles useful and would like to reproduce them for your local use, you have our permission to do so. If you would like to see this little paper sent to more of our church leaders, let us hear from you.
We would welcome the fellowship of individuals and churches who would like to help us circulate it more widely. Bundles may be ordered for churches @ $2.50 per dozen.
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