• Paul exhorted Timothy to "Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me..."(II Tim. 1:13).  The Greek term translated "pattern" is tupos, which Strong defines as "a model (for imitation)."

• The author of Hebrews quotes God who said to Moses, "See...that thou makest all thing according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount" (Heb. 8:5). His lesson to Christians was that they too must observe God's New Covenant pattern.

•  Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that in their conversion, they had obeyed "from the heart ...that form of teaching whereunto (they) were delivered" (Rom. 6:17).  Thus there is a pattern for being saved!

• The brethren in Thessalonica were commanded to withdraw their fellowship from every brother that walked disorderly and "not after the traditions which they received of us" (II Thess. 3:6).

• Paul believed that Christ used him (Paul) as "an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him..." (I Tim. 1:16).  He often exhorted disciples to "imitate" his example (II Thess. 3:7; I Cor. 11:1).

Peter tells us that Christ left us "an example that (we) should follow his steps" (I Pet. 2:21). Such examples are intended to be followed!
Students of the Old Testament know that when God ordered Moses to build him a tabernacle, i.e., a portable house of worship, he said, "According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Ex. 25:9).  If God gave Israel a pattern and expected them to follow it, is it unreasonable that he would do the same for us who serve him under Christ?  The reason we need a pattern is that "it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23).

All of these verses teach that God has given us a pattern or example of what he expects of us and that it is our duty to conform to that pattern.  That divine pattern is the message of Christ expressed in written words; in a permanent record for all men of all nations in all ages (Matt. 24:35).  We know it as our New Testament.
Furthermore we are strictly warned neither to add to nor take away from that which he has given us (Rev. 22:18-19; Prov. 30:6).  His words will be the standard by which we will be judged in eternity (John 12:48).
 
We can't help but wonder why anyone professing Christ would deny that which is so clearly taught in his Word. The agenda proposed by the agents of change cannot be implemented where the Divine pattern is respected and complied with.  Hence to accomplish their goals, they must deny the concept of a heavenly pattern and persuade brethren to accept things which have no basis in Scripture and might even be contrary to portions of it. If no Divine pattern exists no one could object to their changes!

Everyone desirous of spending eternity in heaven should focus his mind on that day when he will stand before Christ, the Supreme Judge of humanity. For the dead will stand before the throne and the books will be opened and they will be judged by the things written in the books, according to their works (Rev. 22:11-12).  God has a pattern for his church.  Do you respect it? Are you complying with it?

WHY WE HAVE PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS CHURCHES DO NOT
Those familiar with our brotherhood's history and those widely traveled among our churches know that we had have had a number of divisions among our brethren.  Enemies of Christ often cite this problem to discredit our plea. While all division involves sin on the part of one or both parties involved, there are some  significant factors that contribute to our struggle with this problem (Rom. 16:17).

I. Satan hates Christ's true church and makes continual warfare against her (Rev. 12:13-17).  She is the one church founded by the Redeemer (Matt. 16:18).  It is to her the Savior adds the saved (Acts 2:47).  She alone is charged with seeking and saving the lost.  She is the kingdom that Christ will deliver up to the Father in the last day (I Cor. 15:24).  All other churches are man-made facsimiles, counterfeits with no spiritual worth or standing.  Satan has no interest in wrecking them.  They are unwitting supporters of his cause. But the church of Christ he is determined to destroy.  Persecution failed, but division has done its destructive work (Matt. 12:25).

II.  Members of churches of Christ strongly believe that what one believes and how he worships and serves God is important.  For most denominationalists, what one believes is of little consequence, just so long as he loves Jesus. They have little reason to quarrel over doctrine or practice, since such does not matter in their church.  John taught that whosoever abandons the doctrine of Christ also leaves God and the Son (II John 9).  Paul urges us to "speak...the things that befit the sound doctrine" (Tit. 2:1). Because of our love for Christ and his will, we cannot stand by idly when someone seeks to corrupt the faith we hold.

III. Churches of Christ have no pope, president or primate to rule over them and declare the terms of their faith.  Jesus in heaven is head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22).  His will is expressed in the New Testament.  When our religious neighbors disagree they look to their human head for answers.   We look to the New Covenant and try to understand it.  Being fallible, we sometimes see matters differently.

IV. Other churches have their faith and practice spelled out in a creedal statement or denominational manual. The individual is not to question the creed.  We have no such book, only our Bibles.  We must rely on our human intelligence and judgment to understand it.

V. Many churches claim God speaks directly to their preachers. When their clergyman tells them what to believe or not to believe, it is to be  taken as the final word from heaven. We reject such unfounded claims and know that God only speaks to us through his written word (Rev. 2:29). Again we must depend on our finite knowledge and ability to correctly interpret that message.

VI.  The church of Christ is not a democracy where beliefs and practices are determined by majority vote.  The church is a monarchy.  Christ has all the authority (Matt. 28:18).  He is king (I Tim. 6:15). Our job is to listen to and obey the divine King (Matt. 17: 5; Heb. 5:9).  Other churches simply take a vote and live with the decision.

VII. God has made every Christian a member of his royal priesthood (I Pet. 2:5,9).  To each of us he has given intelligence, volition and autonomy.  We are all expected  to search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).   We all must give account for our personal faith and conduct as Christians (Rom. 14:12).  For this and the other reasons listed above, we sometimes find ourselves in disagreement with other brethren.  We in no way excuse division, we simply point out reasons why the problem might be more frequently seen among us than some other groups.

When we reach the point that what we believe and how we worship and serve God does not matter, then we might as well disband, close our doors and hang out a sign saying, "Gone Out of Business."

GOD CONTINUES TO PROVIDE
In the last month God has raised up additional volunteers to help us extend the outreach of this endeavor for the Lord's church. We have added all the congregations in North Carolina, half of those in Pennsylvania, 90 additional churches in California and another 150 in Texas. This month's edition will exceed 5,750 copies.  Remember it only costs us .50 per month to mail two copies of the paper addressed to Minister/Elders of a given congregation. All funds received go directly into the printing and mailing of the paper. For $85 per month we can mail every congregation in Kansas.  For $75 we can cover all the churches in Indiana. For $100 we can mail all of Louisiana. Your help is needed and will be greatly appreciated.  Even small gifts can help us  reach a few  church leaders that may be faced with those demanding unscriptural changes. If you send us a gift of $25 or more, as a token of our appreciation, we will send you a complimentary bound copy of Volume II of the paper.  Together we can make a difference.

OUR FAMILY HISTORY
Most folks, as they grow older, find much pleasure in searching out their family history. Christians should be eager to learn about their spiritual family's  roots.  Those whose mission is to change the church of Christ into something new and different are busy writing revisions of our brotherhood's history.  Those who read nothing but their interpretations will very likely have a faulty impression of those who went before us...and even of who we are today and what we are about.

Take time to read Dr. Earl West's Search for the Ancient Order. These four volumes cover the era from 1790 to 1950.  Not only are they delightful to read,  they are most helpful in clarifying the reader's understanding of what our fathers had in mind when they left denominationalism and set out to restore the ancient faith and practice of the church.

You would also be blest to read Dr. West's biography of Elder Benjamin Franklin, called The Eye of the Storm. Franklin was a great preacher in Indiana from ca. 1850-1885.  He edited a wonderful paper called the American Christian Review.  He was a powerful voice for truth when the controversy over missionary societies and instrumental music swept over the church.

Another fine book dealing with the same era is The Life of Jacob Creath, Jr. Bro. Creath was one of the few men who stood up and said no, when the majority wanted to organize a missionary society to take care of the church's evangelistic duties.

Other useful books are The Life of Daniel Sommer by W. Wallace and Like a Lion, also a biography of Sommer.  Sommer was a powerful and influential preacher who led the fight against the societies and other departures of that age.  Unfortunately he was a man of extremes.  Many who fell under his influence adopted an ultraconservative approach to Christianity and were separated from the mainstream of our brotherhood.  The books however contain valuable insights into the thinking and maneuvers  of the digressives of yesteryear.  If you are unable to locate these books, you might be able to borrow them from the library of one of our Christian Colleges.

GEMS FOUND IN A LITERARY QUARRY
Since I first read the change agents' call for replacing old-fashion preaching with drama and story telling, I have wondered where such an idea originated?  While reading the book, All That Glitters by Coleen Cook I found the answer to my question.  Ms. Cook quotes an observation of Norman Lear, producer of the comedy series, "All in the Family" and founder of Citizens for the America Way.  Lear,  a militant anti-Christian humanist, "says that ideas are more convincing when they come gift-wrapped in drama and humor." He goes on to say,  "People accept information more readily when they are entertained" (Cited in All That Glitters, Moody Press, Chicago, p. 211). Just as Lear has used this format to promote his brand of humanism and hedonism, so our change agents use it to promote their kind of religion. Faithful men of God will stand with Paul who taught that "it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor. 1:21).

>From Walter Cronkite I found this excellent description of a person who is a liberal. "A true liberal is someone not bound by doctrine or committed to a point of view in advance" (Ibid. p. 34). True, Cronkite was describing social and political liberals, but his description truly paints the religious liberal as well.  Such is an exquisite portrait of our change agents who refuse to be bound by doctrine and who will not commit themselves to principles that were believed and held long before they came along. God's people will cling to those "things most surely believed among us" (Lk. 1:1).

Ms. Cook rightly observes that "Those who lack a fixed idea of absolute truth are on a collision course with a dogmatic Jesus who insisted He was ‘the way, the truth and the life'" (John 14:6) (Ibid. p. 35).

Author, Neil Postman observed that "no great religious leader, from Moses to Luther to Jesus himself, offered people what they wanted–only what they needed" (Ibid. p. 197). Yet, promoters of change, striving to build their mega-churches, base their programs on "giving the people what they want."  It was "a rebellious people...children that (would) not hear the law of Jehovah; that (said) to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things..." (Is. 30:10).

Perhaps these gems will be of use to those who are striving to inoculate their brethren against the destructive scourge of change.  JHW   ***

"The most astounding fact about reformers, driven by the purest of motives and the most spotless goodwill, is that it does not dawn on them that their programs can make things worse" (Leo Rosten).

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim" (Santayana).

WORSHIP: ANTIQUITY, AESTHETICS AND EMOTION
In the thinking of many of our neighbors antiquity, aesthetics and emotion play a large but unscriptural role in how to worship God.

Antiquity speaks of things that are ancient in years.  Some folks think that Catholicism or some of the older Protestant churches are, by virtue of their antiquity, where God wishes them to be.  But antiquity cannot make wrong right.  Old error is just as unacceptable as today's version.  The Lord's church is two thousand years old: the oldest of all existing churches, but it is often new to a community or to a particular person.  Although he may have just heard of Christ's Church, it has long been here and it is his misfortune to have not learned about it earlier.  Remember that old is not enough; a church must be as old as the Bible.

Aesthetics is the study and appreciation of things beautiful.  It involves such things as art, sculpture and fine music.  Art is beautiful.  Fine music is both inspiring, entertaining and relaxing.  The thunderous peels of the pipe organ thrill the aesthetic nature of many souls. However scripture does not make esthetic beauty the standard for acceptable worship.  God has specifically forbidden the making and use of statuary (graven images) for worship (Deut.5:8-9).  Even the great art of the Italian masters cannot be used as aids or objects of acceptable worship.  Early Christians worshiped without fine opulent houses of worship, without fine art and sculpture and without the finery of instrumental accompaniment to their singing.

Emotion in worship has its place in worship.  We must love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mk. 12:30).  Emotion however, musts always be in subjection to the will of God.  "Not every one that saith Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven"  (Matt. 7:21).  We must obey from the heart that form of teaching (Rom. 6:17).  Emotion, bereft of truth, is not just harmless, it can be an unacceptable substitute for true worship.  It can lead to worship that is chaotic and confusing (I Cor. 14:33, 40).  

Acceptable worship must be "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).  That worship can be offered to God in a manner totally acceptable without a beautiful building, the use of the fine art, statuary, musical instruments and musically trained and directed choirs.  It was so with those first Christians and can be so today.  When I worshiped with the Lord's church in Sukkakunaland, South Africa, I saw worship as it was in the early days.  The church consisted of virtually every citizen of the village.  Having no meeting place, they met under a tree, sitting on the ground.  They communed with bread and fruit of the vine from an ordinary drinking cup and plate. They had classes for their children and sent out missionaries. Thus did the first Christians as they assembled in the country side, in their caves or private homes.

It is perfectly right to appreciate the beauty of  lovely things human artistic skill has created. But it is wrong to assume that such can improve on the worship God has in Scripture ordained  for us to present unto Him. 
 

JOY IN WORSHIP
David wrote, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah" (Ps. 122:1).  Likewise, God wants us to find joy in our worship.
* We should sing with joy in our hearts and enjoy so doing. "Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah..." (Ps. 10:1).
* We should find joy in hearing the gospel preached and taught in its purity. "Oh how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Ps. 119:97).  People heard Christ gladly (Mk. 12:37).
* We should give our gifts unto God with joyful hearts for "God loveth a cheerful giver" (II Cor. 9:7).
* Joy should fill our hearts as we remember our beloved Lord in the communion.  We are sorry that he had to die for our sins, but so happy that he was willing to do so.
* Our prayers and supplications should be offered up with joy (Phil. 1:4).
* With joy we should meet and fellowship with our beloved family in Christ.  With joy in his heart, Paul longed to see his brethren at Thessalonica (I Thess. 3:9-10).

When we assemble for worship it is a time to "rejoice in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4).  We should do our best to leave frowns, sadness and sorrows behind and allow God to fill our hearts and souls "with all joy and peace in believing" (Rom. 14:14).  As David said, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed (happy) is the man that taketh refuge in him" (Ps.34:8)