DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO WARN OTHER CONGREGATIONS OF ERROR?

Dear Bro. Waddey:

In principle I agree with you and have agonized over what to do, however, since Churches of Christ congregations are each autonomous it appears to be one roadblock we have to overcome. I would appreciate your thoughts from that perspective. Beverly

Dear Beverly:

Thanks for writing. I, like you, recognize and cherish our congregational autonomy. This however does not prohibit us from trying to teach, encourage and warn brethren concerning dangers that could destroy them. Think of it this way. Every man's house is his private castle, his domain and I have no right to infringe on his property. However if I should be driving by and see smoke and flames pouring from his attic, I would have a moral obligation to bang on his door and warn him of the danger.

The extent of my efforts is to teach, to sound the word of warning. I am trying to convince those at risk, not to heed the siren calls of false teachers. The New Testament is full of such warnings. Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and Jude all contain warnings to brethren about false teachers. I would not try to insert myself into the business of any congregation, overthrow any eldership or dislodge any preacher. Such would be wrong. But I can teach brethren God's will and way, just as we teach the gospel by television and radio and gospel literature.

We are more than members of our local congregation where we hold membership. We are members of the kingdom of Christ, which is world wide. We are part of his body. When one member suffers or is lost, we all suffer. This was the point of my article which you received. Because we are members of the worldwide kingdom, we send relief to Christians in Africa, Russia, etc. Churches send their preachers on mission trips to assist mission churches because we are all part of one great family.

Surely we should be concerned when destructive error is corrupting and destroying the faith of our brethren. We should shout the word of warning to them and try to show them the way back to safety. Satan would be very happy if we all just wrung our hands and fretted and did nothing as his agents cut a path of destruction through the heart of the church.

May God help us to love his kingdom enough to try to save it from ruin.