REDEEMING THE TIMES (A Review)

This book is sub-headed: "Addressing the Issues of the Church in the Present Age."  It consists of chapters by a number of gospel preachers and is edited by Russell Dyer, Tommy Haynes and Jeff Jenkins. The authors, each in his own assigned area, deal with the problems being caused by the promoters of change and the agenda they are pushing upon our churches.

• Jeff Jenkins does a good job calling our people back to serious Bible preaching and teaching that will root and ground our brethren in the ancient faith.

• Kippy Myers deals with the "Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible" which is being questioned by some of the scholars of the change brotherhood.

• The editors join hands to discuss the matter of "The Silence of the Scriptures" on certain subjects and what our response to that silence must be. They well note that the man who argues that if God does not forbid a thing he must approve it (presumes to know the mind of God).

• Chuck Monan looks at our past history as religious movement and sets forth the principles that guided our predecessors in the faith. He concedes, "No intelligent observer would deny that there is much room for improvement in churches of Christ" then notes that the fault is not in our method of interpreting the Word, but in living up to that sacred Message. * Gregg Clark discusses the matter of "Law or Love." Since a major premise of the change agents is that Christ saves us by grace therefore we are not in any sense under law, this chapter is very timely. He shows the folly of this view simply by citing those many New Testament verses that speak of the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

• Tommy Haynes deals with the role of culture in determining the faith and practice of the church. Promoters of change are marching in the parade of modem culture. Haynes notes, "This clamor for change is not the fault of the message or the nature of the church. It is the work of a powerful evil entity that wants Christ's message and His body to change." * Tim Pyle points out the dangers of so emphasizing the differences in age groups in the church and a failure to bring these different generations together for fellowship and service. What is needed is more interaction between young and old, not less.

• Lindsey and Thomas Bart Warren analyze the ecumenism that is the banner of the agents of change. This approach to Christianity, borrowed from the denominational world demands a toothless, convictionless kind of church and disciple. It is the application of the worldly philosophy of Pluralism in the church. Scripture refutes and rejects it by telling us there is but one body or church {1 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:4). Ecumenism is the spirit that drives the "Community Church" plank of the change agenda.

• Dale Jenkins asks, "Does the Church Have to Change in Order to Grow?" He notes that some change is inevitable, but the faith of the church does not change, nor does its essential nature. The changes we reject are those that fall in this last category. * Russell Dyer tackles the problem of "Contemporary or Traditional Worship" He well notes "that worship is not about the preference or benefit of the worshipper; it is about honoring God." He agrees that sometimes "the church must be fine-­tuned" but only "where Scripture allows it."

• Ron Williams deals with the question, Is Instrumental Music a matter of Tradition or of Scripture? He quotes Phil Sanders who rightly asks, "One must wonder how an unscriptural practice, begun centuries late by men, can be from heaven or according to the truth?"

• Neal Pollard responds to those who are determined to place women in roles of public leadership in the church. He analyzes the many New Testament passages that speak of woman's place and work in the life of the church and shows that those pushing for female leaders must find their authority outside of God's Word.

• Dale Hartman discusses the leadership role of elders in the life of the church and how the qualifications set forth by Paul equip them for their task.

• Stephen Baily shows the adverse impact that a constant diet of entertainment has had on many young worshippers. "They do not know how to distinguish between what is real and what is manufactured."

• David Deffenbaugh reminds us that "The Fields Are Still White" for harvest. We must not allow ourselves to be diverted from our mission of evangelism.

• Ralph Gilmore's chapter, "Can the Bible be Understood in Our Time? is worth the price of this book. He identifies and refutes the "new hermeneutic" being pushed by the purveyors of change and restates in a helpful way a workable approach to rightly dividing the word of truth that Christians have pursued for ages past.

This book is a helpful addition to the literature of the day. It may be ordered from Clarity Publications, Box 23384, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.