| JOHN WADDEY, EDITOR
Published by the Church of Christ, 12213 West Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374 Volume 2, Number 10
CURRENT ISSUE: June, 2003 |
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Table of Contents:
1. WHO THEN SHOULD LEAVE?
A PARABLE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY
Some years back Joe and Mary Christian scraped and saved and finally got enough money to fulfill their dream and make a down payment on a dairy farm. By hard work and sacrifice they made a success of their investment. The farm prospered. They were able to build a lovely home, with a barn and outbuildings on their property and their dairy herd grew. God truly blessed their labors.
Joe and Mary were blest with four sons and a daughter. When they grew up, the kids went off to college and studied agriculture and business. Upon graduation they came home to help Joe run the farm. But while at school they picked up some new ideas about farming. They saw no future in dairy farming. They preferred a diversified approach. They wanted to plant some of the land in corn, some in soy beans and raise pigs and chickens instead of dairy cattle. When they could not convince Joe of the need to change to their program, they grew restless and fretful. They became critical of their father's efforts and predicted he would soon go out of business. The situation became intolerable. Since the young folks had married and had children, they now numbered 15 to the two parents. After a while the situation grew ugly and the children told mom and dad that they were going to farm the way they learn in school and if they did not like it they could leave. The question is who should leave and go else where? Joe and Mary, who by sacrifice and hard work bought and developed the farm, or the children who had not put a penny into the operation? I think I know what you would say. Well, consider the following scenario:
A congregation was established, its property purchased and meeting house built and paid for by members of the Church of Christ who firmly believed:
- That Christ established and recognizes only one church (Matt. 16:18-19);
- That in the church, worshipful praise should be offered with voices alone, with no instrument other than the heart (Eph. 5:19);
- That the Lord's Supper is a sacred memorial of the death of Christ and not part of a fellowship meal with meat and vegetables (I Cor. 11:20-22);
- That women are forbidden by God to fill public leadership roles in the church; specifically that they are forbidden to teach and have authority over the men (I Tim. 2:11-12);
- That the Bible is the infallible inerrant will of God (Ps.19:7) and that it is a divinely given pattern for us follow (Heb. 8:5; II Tim. 1:13);
- That God saves sinners by grace through faith when their faith leads them to obey Christ; in particular in baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
- That congregation has worshipped and served God according to these standards for years, but now a new preacher, new elders, and/or younger members decide that they wish to introduce serious changes into the faith, worship, practice of that congregation that conflict with their past beliefs and practices. What shall the older members do? The two approaches are certainly incompatible. There is no way the two can worship together in peace and harmony unless those who hold to the original standards go contrary to their consciences. Amos said it well, "Can two walk together except they have agreed?" (Amos 3:3). A separation is bound to occur. The question is who should be the ones to leave and go elsewhere?
- Honesty says that those who built and paid for the facility should not be expected to leave!
- Those who hold to the faith of the founders and past leaders of that congregation should not be expected to surrender their property.
- Even if the majority has been seduced into the camp of the change agents, they have no right to the property that was built and paid for by brethren who obviously did not share their new found faith.
The interlopers need to leave. If they want to worship like their neighbors in the Christian Churches, they should go there. If they want to be an independent Community Church they should start their own. They have no right to wrest away the property of those whose faith they have rejected. Honest people would not do this. But it seems when people abandon the doctrine of Christ they prefer to take someone else's meeting place rather than go and build their own. This is yet another reason why such should be rejected (Tit.3:10-11). JHW
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2. LIFT UP CONTINUAL PRAYERS FOR THE LORD'S CHURCH
The day Christ washed away our sins, he added us to his church (Acts 2:47). His church is as precious to him as your beloved mate is to you (Eph. 5:25). His church is the kingdom of God on this earth (Matt. 16:!8-19). Christ and his church are the hope of the world. The church with its many members constitutes the hands of God ministering to the needs of suffering humanity. The purest and best of humanity, before us and in our own generation, have been members of Christ's church. Ambassadors of the church brought the gospel to each of us and led us to salvation in Christ. The church taught us, trained us, nurtured us in the faith of Christ and is preparing us for eternal life with the Father.
Today the Church of Christ is a kingdom under siege by foes within and without. She desperately needs our prayers for her well-being and prosperity; for her protection and survival. A band of people have arisen within the church who are determined to impose changes on her that will corrupt her faith and practice and transform her from the precious bride of Christ into a worthless human denomination. Therefore it is essential that every faithful child of God daily lift up prayers to the Father on behalf of the church:
- That God will protect her from those who would do her harm (Is. 31:5).
- That He will raise up an army of faithful soldiers to lead his church in this day of trial (II Tim. 2:2-4).
- That he will overthrow the schemes and plans of those who would subvert the faith of His people (Ps. 83:17).
- That He will open the eyes of elders, preachers and brethren (Eph. 1:18), so they can discern those who are false teachers and refuse them a hearing (I John 4:1).
- That He will heal the wounds "agents of change" have already inflicted upon His beloved church (Hos. 6:1).
- That he will stir the hearts of elders and other Christians to use their resources to help provide the weapons needed to win this battle for the heart and soul of the church (I Tim. 6:17-18).
- That He will restore his church to peace, harmony and prosperity (Eph. 4:3-4).
Our old hymn "I Love Thy Kingdom Lord," captures the thought of this exhortation, "For her our tears shall fall, for her our prayers ascend to her my care and toils be given till toils and cares shall end." Let a hundred thousand prayers ascend each day as sweet incense and we shall see better and happier days for the church we love. JHW
3. A NOTE TO OUR READERS
Since last month God has raised up additional helpers who are making it possible for us to send the paper to the leaders of churches ten additional regions of the country. At this stage we are targeting those congregations located near Christian Colleges and Universities. Since it is from some of those schools that the problem in flowing, the churches nearest them are most likely to be affected. The circulation this month exceeds 3,000.
You can help us build a barrier that will block the progress of this movement away from God's standard.
- Ask your elders to read your copy and consider providing it for the congregation.
- Make copies of the paper and share them with your fellow-Christians.
- Underwrite the cost of sending the CTN to the elders and preachers in a given city, county or state. It costs us .50 to mail two copies to a congregation each month.
- Our goal is to send it to the leaders of every congregation in the country each month and eventually increase it to eight pages. A monthly contribution could help toward these goals.
- If you use the Internet, tell other about the web-address of CTN. www.christianity-then-and-now.com
- If you use the Internet, team with us in sending out a weekly lesson to the fellow-Christians on you mail list.
- Pray daily for the success of this defensive effort for the church we love.
- If you wish to help, please contact us at once. E-mail me @ johnwaddey@aol.com
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4. A BOOK YOU SHOULD READ
A few years ago Bro. Everett Ferguson wrote A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church. The author, a man of extensive scholarship, traces the grammatical, historical and doctrinal aspects of church music and reaches the conclusion we have long known and accepted in our churches: the Bible authorizes only a cappella singing in worship to God. The early Christians understood and observed this limitation. Those who lead need to read this book. It may be ordered from the Gospel Advocate, P. O. Box 150, Nashville, TN 37202.
"Preventives of evil are far better than remedies; cheaper and easier of application, and surer in result."
(Edwards) "Neutrality in things good or evil is both odious and prejudicial..."
J. Hall |
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5. THE CHURCH IN TRANSITION
This book by James S. Woodroof was first published in 1990. It was a precursor of numerous books calling for changes to the faith, worship and practices of Churches of Christ. Bro. Woodroof is a diplomatic advocate of change; more subtle than most of his fellows.
The author provides a succinct portrait of the change agents and their churches. Note: "Often when a church or a movement reaches the point I believe we have reached, it suddenly becomes "pragmatically ecumenical." "Abandoning its convictions, it bands together with others who are suffering the same fate. Through organizational union they together hope to stay afloat by jointly dismantling their rudders. Thus crippled, they drift into uncertain waters" (p. 6).
The writer has warm words for three journals that have promoted his concept of unity: Leroy Garrett's Restoration Review, Carl Ketcherside's Mission Messenger and Victor Knowles' One Body (p. 17). This puts a clearer focus on Bro. W's dream for our churches. He cites as positive examples of folks seeking Christian unity, the Abilene Christian University Lectures... and the Kiamichi Clinic of the Christian Churches (p. 18). This clarifies where our brother finds his inspiration.
Bro. W. says, "We had no more right (maybe not as much, in view of Paul's statement) to preach only the last part of the good news than Billy Graham had to preach only the first part" (p. 33). First he should point out to us the preacher who has taught "only the last part of the good news." Having done that he needs to elaborate on Billy Graham having more right to preach "only the first part" of the good news. Does Bro. W. consider the man who preached salvation by faith alone more faithful to Christ's commission than the man who preached salvation by faith and baptism (Mark 16:16)? To Bro. Woodroof, Churches of Christ are a denomination. He says, "We don't like to hear criticism that would imply that we may be a denomination. But the time has come for Churches of Christ to redefine the term ‘denomination'..." (p. 167). He means we should accept our status as a denomination and not insist that we are the true church of Christ.
The writer tells us, "There is much uncertainty and mounting unrest among members of the Church of Christ today" (p. 44). Such is the case only among those primed and prepped by the agents of change. Most members of the church however, continue to hold to "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) and are happy and confident in their faith.
All change agents tend to say the same thing, use a common vocabulary and examples. This suggests that all have been to the same schools and seminars and read the same books and journals. It is safe to assume their materials are from denominational churchmen who know nothing of, nor care a whit for restoring New Testament Christianity.
The author acknowledges the things they wish to change "are things we can go to our graves practicing... Should we recognize that we too are a church in transition; there probably will be no massive revolution in our worship practices or in the general manner in which we believe religiously" (p.77). Following are some of the changes being widely promoted. Would they effect a "massive revolution" in your congregation?:
- instrumental music in worship,
- choirs and solos;
- the Lord Supper as part of a pot luck meal;
- hand clapping and applause in worship;
- women teachers and preachers;
- no more gospel preaching, rather story telling and drama;
- accepting our status as a denomination;
- fellowshipping denominational bodies,
- allowing their preachers to fill our pulpits;
- people "being saved" by confessing Christ and praying the sinner's prayer. If these changes would cause no alarm in your congregation, the change movement is already entrenched there.
He charges "We have divided over such matters as cups and kitchens, organs and orphans, race and ritual, pastors and personalities, contribution and cooperation and a host of other things" (p. 78) This does have a cute poetic ring but it is exaggerated and seeks to blame all with the sins of the few. How would Bro. W. respond if an element arose where he preaches, demanding that he not be paid for his work, or that they remove their fellowship facility or that they use only one cup in communion? Would he concede out of love, tolerance and a desire for unity? Would he try to teach them? If he saw them gaining ground among his members and threatening to overwhelm the leadership what would he do? If the mistaken brethren withdrew themselves and started a new congregation, would it be his fault?
He insists, "The more conservative church...must not condemn the church which (is)...more liberal" (p. 123). This is what his book is all about. He wants us to allow the change agents to do their work; to effect their changes without question or challenge. He derides "self-appointed defenders of the faith committed to..keeping the church pure" (p. 151). But change agents such as Bro. W. are self-appointed saviors of the church. They are warring against "legalism and traditionalism." If it is wrong for us, why is it right for them?
The Church in Transition helps us to know just what the author really believes about the Church of Christ, our faith, our practice and our people. It demonstrates the destination agents of change have in mind for us. It shows the seriousness of our problem. It also provides insight as to where much of the thinking of lesser men is derived. JHW
** For an in depth review of The Church in Transition, check Book Reviews @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com
Church of Christ
12213 W. Bell Rd. Suite 211
Surprise, AZ 85374
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6. LITTLE MEN
As a boy I read Louisa May Alcott's wonderful book, "Little Men." Today we see another novel unfolding before our eyes as little men are busy asserting themselves among our churches. While full grown physically, these men are are spiritually developmentally delayed. Some are dwarfed and mis-shapened in their faith. Examples of these little men are as follows:
- Men who pretend to be profound scholars and expect others to accept their pronouncements without question as they seek to discredit our long-held faith and impose their new ideas. They may hold terminal degrees from secular or denominational schools, but many of them are quite ignorant of the fundamentals of God's Word.
- Men who do harm to the body of Christ while being supported to build it up.
- Men who claim to be helping the church while fomenting chaos and strife among her people.
- Men who rush forward to offer a fix for the problems they themselves have created. I find it interesting that the schools from which the rivers of change are flowing, offer the services of some of their staff to help churches resolve the conflicts caused by changes their co-workers have brought in.
- Men who seek to build their status and influence by bashing and attempting to discredit the godly preachers who blazed the trail before them and built the congregations where they now serve. Their's is the ugly sin of ingratitude.
- Men whose teaching and practice lowers respect for the authority of God's Word. Rather than honoring the law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Rom. 8:2), they tell us it is a story book or a love letter thus we need not be too concerned about details or duties and obligations set forth therein.
- Man who refuse to recognize and honor the church of Christ as the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22); the church of the New Testament. They relegate her to the status of a human denomination. How shameful of them.
- Men who think they know more about how to worship God than did Christ, the head and founder of the church. They want drama and women in leadership (I Cor. 14:33-34). They crave emotionalism and enter-tainment. They confuse these things with true worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
- Men who undertake to change the unchangeable kingdom of Christ (Dan. 2:44). Who are they to put profane hands upon the sacred body of Christ?
- Men who presume that the new is better than the old in the realm of faith. They care nothing for the old paths (Jer. 6:16). They are like the pagan Athenians, always searching for something new or different (Acts 17:21). The things of Christ flow to us from the time of Christ; from the ancient Testament of Christ.
- Men who seek to commandeer church buildings and schools built by Christians who did not share their new "ideas of change." Rather than starting their own congregations and schools and building their own facilities they prefer to infiltrate and take over what other have raised up. They join a long line of false teachers who have used stealth and deceit to capture the property of faithful Christians over the last 135 years.
The church desperately needs "big" men with great hearts and souls filled with unbounded love and total reverence for Christ and his spiritual body; for his sacred Word. She needs men who are willing to become all things to all men if by any means they can save some (I Cor. 9:22); servants who are willing to spend and be spent to build up the kingdom of Christ (II Cor. 12:15); men who are set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:16). But she can do without the little men described above. May God deliver her from them. JHW |
