Rocky Craig
22570 Old Tyler Highway,
Troup, Texas 75789
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John M. Grubb
This is a variation of the title of a
page in a recent
bulletin of the Westlake Church of Christ to advertize the
upcoming
"Heartland" workshop to be conducted in Indianapolis July 10-13,
1996.
In Westlake's bulletin, seven of the
scheduled speakers are
listed with the title of their assigned lessons and a short
summary
of the theme of each lesson. According to this article, these
seven
speakers are the "top seven reasons" for attending this workshop.
In this article we shall look at
the top seven reasons for
"NOT" attending this effort.
1. The speakers on this
program are a reason for
not
attending this workshop. This year's speakers include:
Mike Cope, Rubel Sbelly, Marvin Phillips, Jim Woodroof,
Bob
Hendren, Harold Redd and Paul Watson.
For
those who are informed, most of these names are very familiar.
Mike Cope and Rubel Shelly are
the editors of Wineskins. This paper is leading the way
in
attempting to change the direction of the church. One article in
this magazine questioned the purity of the mother of Jesus.
Marvin Phillips is involved in the Tulsa
Workshop
and has taught classes in a Christian Church college. Jim
Woodroof is well know for his false position on
marriage-
divorce-remarriage, as well as his latest book, The Church in
Transition. This book is just another in the effort to
promote
"unity-in-diversity." Bob Hendren fits into this
group very comfortably. During the 1970's and 1980's, he often
appeared on programs with those leading the Crossroads
Movement. I'm not familiar with Paul Watson
and Harold Redd, but they indicate, by their
participation in this effort, they are in fellowship and
agreement
with these false teachers.
2. Another reason for
"not" attending is: We would
have fellowship with false teachers. The Bible teaches:
9"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ,
he
hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you,
and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither
bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker
of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). The "doctrine of Christ"
does not simply mean the doctrine about Christ, but the teaching
that comes from Christ. When Jesus warned the disciples
concerning
the Pharisees and Sadducees, "Then understood they how that
he
bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine
of
the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matt. 16:12). The
"doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" does not mean
the
doctrine about the Pharisees and Sadducees, but the teaching that
comes from them. Paul added: 17"Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that
are
such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the
simple"
(Rom. 16:17-18). "And have no fellowship with unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). To support this
workshop is to violate these passages.
3. These kinds of
workshops let the wolves into the
sheepfold. Paul said to the elders of Ephesus,
28"Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know
this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years
I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears"
(Acts
29:28-30). Elders are the shepherds of the flock. These false
teachers are "ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15-20). Faithful
shepherds would never allow the wolves inside the sheepfold. In
speaking of the work of elders, Paul said: 9"Holding fast the
faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by
sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10For
there
are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of
the circumcision: 11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert
whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake" (Titus 1:9-11). When elders allow and even encourage
their members to attend this kind of effort, they are not
fulfilling their obligations to God.
4. Faithful congregations
and Christians do not
support this kind of workshop. Garfield Heights, Shelbyville
Road,
West Newton, and possibly a few other congregations in
the
city of Indianapolis do not support this workshop. There are
other
congregations in the state of Indiana who refuse to have a part
in
this workshop. These congregations are trying to set the proper
example to others by "not bidding godspeed" to this effort.
5. We should speak out
against efforts that are
being
made to change the church into "a denomination among
denominations." The church is not a denomination (Matt.
16:18; Eph. 4:3-6)! Again, we urge brethren not to support this
effort and to speak out against it. If you are meeting with a
congregation which continues to support false teachers and their
teachings, we urge you to speak to the elders about these
matters.
If they will not hear, we urge you to "come out from among
them" (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1).
6. We need to use our
influence for good, not
evil. It is not easy to take a stand for the truth. We
need to make sure we are using our influence for good, not for
evil. To support this workshop is to use our influence for evil.
7. As the song says,
"I've Got Better Things To
Do." The last reason we give in this article for not
attending this workshop is that we can use our time in
better ways. Instead of going to this kind of workshop,
choose a faithful lectureship or mission forum that features
speakers who are true to the Book. Use your funds to support the
preaching of the gospel to a lost and dying world.
There will be a number of
brethren who will attend this
workshop. Some will attend because they do not know the reasons
for
staying away. It is our hope that this article will give some of
them time to pause and reflect upon lending their good name and
influence to an effort that does not promote New Testament
Christianity.
2842 Shelby St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46203
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Kerry Duke
Churches of Christ are in trying
times. Pressure from the
world has caused many congregations to compromise. Worldliness
and
false teaching are rampant, dividing and injuring the body of
Christ.
What should members, especially elders
and preachers, do about
these internal problems? Most agree that we should deal with
them.
But some are advocating a "hush-hush" approach. Their popular
cliche is, "Don't air your dirty laundry before the world." Deal
with the problems, they advise, but don't let outsiders know
about
this internal strife. They contend that people will be
discouraged
from becoming members of the church if they hear that we have
such
problems.
It is true that we do not need to
broadcast every church
problem to the world. But some points of division are of such a
public and damaging nature that they need to be addressed before
outsiders. In fact, some of our laundry has become so dirty that
outsiders are airing it for us.
Edward Fudge in The Fire That
Consumes teaches
that
hell is temporary and that the wicked will be annihilated. Fudge
is
a member of the Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston, Texas.
Robert A. Peterson, an elder in the Presbyterian church, called
Fudge "a churches of Christ layman" who is a "false witness" on
the
subject of hell.1 Robert A. Morey, preacher for the New Life
Bible
Church, called Fudge's doctrine "feeble" and "absurd."2 Several
churches of Christ endorse and participate in Promise
Keepers, an interdenominational men's movement that promotes
fellowship with anyone who merely believes that Jesus is God's
Son.
Max Lucado, preacher for the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San
Antonio, Texas, was a key speaker at the 1996 Promise Keepers
gathering in Atlanta. Rubel Shelly, preacher at
the Woodmont Hills church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee, said
that "God was the author of the event."3 Jack
Stephens, preacher for the Open Bible Fellowship Church
in
Columbus, Ohio wrote a scathing rebuke of Promise Keepers.4 He
said
"the atmosphere is anything but spiritual" at these hyped events
and criticized the movement's ecumenical stance.
Another apostate movement in
churches of Christ is the A.
D.
70 doctrine. This teaching made popular by Max
King, asserts that the second coming of Christ, the
resurrection and the judgment were all fulfilled in the
destruction
of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. A Christian church journal recently
denounced this teaching as "a doctrine of no hope and a
supplanter
of the blessed hope of the church."5 The dirty laundry of
the
apostate Boston Church of Christ has been aired on the national
television program 20/20 and by various information groups
including the Chicago-based Cult Awareness Network.
Much of the false teaching in
Churches of Christ is not
being
done in a corner. Its promoters are using television, radio,
books,
and other public channels to spread their error. They have
already
shown the world their dirty laundry! If these preachers have
promoted their error before the world, then it is incumbent upon
us
to refute this error before the world. If we are really concerned
about what the world thinks of us, should we not let them know
that
we do not agree with their error?
I do not think less of a
religious group when it is open
about its problems. In fact, I appreciate their forthrightness. I
may not agree with them on many points, but I respect their
courage
in exposing doctrines that are manifestly false. Martin Luther
aired the dirty laundry of the Catholic church, and even those
who
do not fellowship the Lutheran church praise him for this
exposure.
The Southern Baptist Convention wrestled with division over the
inerrancy of Scripture and the role of women in the 1980's. These
controversies were highly publicized. Similarly, a former
preacher
of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, recently wrote a
book
exposing the politics and corruption in this large denominational
church. Most mainline denominations are experiencing division
over
issues such as homosexuality and abortion. Yet we do not
criticize
these groups when they publicly condemn their own for upholding
these sins. We do not say, "They should keep their dirty laundry
to
themselves."
God did not keep the false
teaching and open sin of the
Israelites a secret from other nations. He warned that Israel
would
become "a byword among all people" if they departed from Him (1
Kings 9:6-9). The Babylonians knew about the internal problems of
Judah, and they respected Jeremiah for his courage in exposing
his
people (Jer. 39:11-12; 40:1-4).
The same is true in the New
Testament. When Ananias and
Sapphira died because of their sin, "great fear came upon all
the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (Acts
5:11). Public knowledge of this internal church problem caused
the
fear of God to come upon outsiders. Also, non-Christians visited
the worship assemblies of the church in the New Testament (1 Cor.
14:23-25). Since the preacher is to reprove and rebuke those in
sin, including members (2 Tim. 4:2), is not this "airing dirty
laundry" before nonmembers?
Those who make the dirty laundry
plea are often
inconsistent.
Some of them speak and write publicly against those of us who
publicly expose false brethren. Can you reconcile their actions
with their words? They air "dirty laundry" concerning the airing
of
dirty laundry!
The world knows more about us
than we sometimes realize.
Denominational preachers, in public debates with gospel
preachers,
have for years delighted in exposing division in the church.
Communities are well aware that some churches of Christ are anti-
cooperation. And, now they are hearing good words and fair
speeches
from the voices and pens of preachers among us. God forbid that
we
should sweep these problems under a rug.
P.O. Box 865,
Cookeville, TN 38502
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Victor M. Eskew
The dictionary defines "synonym"
as "a word or expression
accepted as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another word
or
expression." This term is of importance to Bible students in that
the Bible frequently employs synonyms in its pages. For example,
the term "church" is called "the body," "the kingdom," "the bride
of Christ," "a vineyard." Each of the terms have reference to the
same institution, the church, but emphasize different aspects of
it.
Synonyms are used in regard to
many persons or subjects.
The
synonyms we wish to discuss in this article are those connected
with the gospel. This study is much needed in the church today
for
some are teaching there is a distinction to be made between the
gospel and some of its synonyms. But the fact is, that when the
Bible uses either the word "gospel" or one of its synonyms, it
has
reference to the same thing, as the very definition of the
synonym
tells us. What are some of the synonyms for "the gospel?"
One term synonymous with the
gospel is
"doctrine." "Take heed unto thyself, and
unto
the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both
save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16). Would
any dare contend that the doctrine is not the same as the gospel?
"The faith" is
another synonym for the
gospel. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you
of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which
was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
Another word synonymous with
gospel is
"law." Paul wrote these words to the saints in
Rome. "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).
Another word for gospel is
"truth." Jesus
said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free" (John 8:32). Our Lord himself confirmed this
parallel in John 17:17. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy
word is truth."
Another synonym is
"covenant." "But
now
he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established
upon
better promises" (Heb. 8:6).
Along this same line of
discussion, we want to point out
the
synonymous ways of stating the phrase, "obedience to the gospel."
One way is seen in the expression
"abide in the
doctrine." "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not
in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (2
John 9).
"Obedient to the
faith" is the same as
obeying the gospel. "And the word of God increased; and the
number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a
great company of the priests were obedient to the faith"
(Acts
6:7).
"Continuing in the
law" is another like-
expression for obedience to the gospel. "But whoso looketh
into
the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not
a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be
blessed
in his deed" (James 1:25).
"Walking in
truth" is another synonymous
phrase for obedience to the gospel. Second John 4 reads: "I
rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth,
as
we received a commandment from the Father."
The statement "doing the
word," is also a
representation of obedience to the gospel. "But be ye doers
of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves"
(James 1:22).
These phrases need to be studied
just like the various
words
for gospel need to be studied. Some preachers and teachers are
attempting to draw lines between these expressions. They would
have
us believe that obeying the gospel and walking in truth are not
the
same. They preach we are to obey the gospel to be saved, but that
we do not have to continue in the law of Christ to be saved. Such
is foolishness. For if one obeys the gospel, he is also doing all
of the other actions noted above. If not, why not? They are all
synonymous phrases.
We need to be very attentive as
we listen to the gospel
being
proclaimed. We need to be as the noble Bereans and search the
scriptures to see whether the things which are spoken are so.
Many
today are attempting to make simple things difficult. Their
attempts are leading to confusion and false teaching. Let each of
us study (2 Tim. 2:15), and then stand on the bedrock of truth!
400 Cherry Rd.,
Paragould, AR 72450
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Darrell Broking
In Exodus 17 we find the children
of Israel in Rephidim, a
place without substance for survival. Would it be a small thing
for the God in heaven to provide substance for his people? They
had already witnessed his mighty hand in action as he dealt with
Pharaoh and delivered his people from bondage. Yet, we see the
Israelites chiding Moses, murmuring and tempting Jehovah in the
wilderness. They cried, "Wherefore is this that thou hast
brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our
cattle with thirst" (v.3)?
In accordance with the Abrahamic
promise, God vouchsafed a
miracle for a permanent supply of water during the Hebrew's abode
in Sinai. Moses was commanded to go before the people, with the
elders, and smite the rock in Horeb and water flowed out of it.
This place was now referred to as Massah (temptation) and Meriba
(chiding or strife) in memory of the Hebrew's rebellion and their
doubting Jehovah's presence among them.
Deuteronomy 9:21 discusses the
"brook that descended
out
of the mount." In retrospect the psalmist wrote, "He
clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink out of the
great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and
caused
waters to run down like rivers" (Psalm 78:15-16). And,
again
in Psalm 105:41 we read, "He opened the rock, and the waters
gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river." We
should not be surprised to learn that the rock followed them as
they journeyed in the wilderness. Further, Paul informs us
"that rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4). We have a
wonderful
illustration of a gracious, merciful, benevolent God caring for
his
people in a place in which they could not care for themselves.
We, too, live in a place in which we are unable to care for
ourselves spiritually. What a blessing to know that that rock,
Christ, still follows us today. Jesus, the benevolent one,
offers
mankind "living water" (John 4:10). Water of which the
consumer "shall never thirst" (John 4:14). Those
arrayed
in white are led by the Lamb to these "living fountains of
waters" (Rev. 7:13-17). Without this water, mankind will
dry
up and wither away into the second death, of which no one will
overcome. Let us consider two points as we analyze these
thoughts.
First, as Revelation bears out,
only those arrayed in white
will enjoy this fountain of life. Man in sin is portrayed in
Isaiah as "and unclean thing." Isaiah continues his
inspired description by stating, "all our righteousness are
as
filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). Isaiah's similitude is rectified
by
the metaphor of Revelation 7:14. That is to say that our rags
are
washed clean and made white in the Lamb's blood. Peter said that
man purifies his soul "in obeying the truth" (1 Peter
1:22). The pattern or form by which this purification is
accomplished is written for us in Romans 6:1-6,16-17. Therefore,
in righteousness, Peter was able to declare that "baptism
doth
also now save us." Only one baptized into Christ can enjoy
this living water.
Second, we need to be ever
mindful that the unrepentant
murmurers perished in the wilderness. The wilderness wandering
was
a shadow of our Christian sojourn on this earth. In order for a
Christian to enjoy this living water for evermore, he must live
faithfully to the end. The cares of this life should never come
between the Christian and God. The Devil is extremely good at
his
art of deception. He places a great deal of pressure on the
Christian to forsake assembling with other saints. Reasons are
freely supplied why one cannot attend Bible classes and worship
services. The Devil knows that as he begins to separate a
Christian from the congregation, the Christian begins to die.
Physically, we could make similar application to a man being
separated from his water supply.
As the child of God begins to
remove himself from his
source
of substance, he begins to murmur, complain and tempt the Lord.
Chiding is then rendered against the Lord's elders, Bible class
teachers, the preaching and worship services. All of this is the
fruit of rejecting the Lord.
I realize that faithful
attendance alone does not
constitute
fidelity to God. Equally true is the fact that slothful
attendance
(Wednesday evening and Bible studies included) is the fruit of
infidelity. When one has a bad day at work and decides that he
is
too upset to attend services, he is dying spiritually. When one
reasons that family pressures take precedent over the Lord's
church, he is quenching his thirst for truth. Will a man go for
days without consuming water because he is tired, lazy, unhappy,
or
simply too busy to stop for a drink? Only if suicide is on his
mind. We should have the same conception with the spiritual side
of life.
The bodies of the unfaithful were
strewn across the
wilderness. Man should learn from the mistakes of long ago. Our
merciful God is supplying us with the opportunity to drink of
that
rock and live for evermore. Each person cutting himself off from
the Lord's merciful hand will be strewn into the second death.
Let
us as Christians live faithfully to the very end and receive that
crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
P.O. Box 1385,
Gilbert, AZ 85299
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Robin W. Haley
In the chart that accompanies
this brief article (entitled Spiritual Gifts,) please note
that some contend that a woman may take a lead in public assemblies
because (as they allege) 1 Corinthians 14, being a special,
miraculous setting, does not apply to any situation today. Since
this is true (they allege), the instructions found within that
chapter do not apply to any situation or person living today.
First, let me respond by saying
that 1 Corinthians 14 does not stand alone in this New Testament
book. It is found within a context that began back in chapter 11
and will include actions which were addressed in chapters 11, 12,
13, and 16. Why leave chapter 14 out? Because of what the
teaching there does to the "justification" offered which allows
women to take a leading role in teaching an assembly which includes
men: it destroys it! If chapter 14 does not apply, what
about chapter 11 (Lord's supper) or chapter 16 (contribution)?
If it is the case that the
presence of miracles in a
setting
recorded within the Bible indicates that what is found and taught
there does not apply to us nor to any setting today, there is
very
little we can learn and use from the Bible. After all, what
setting as found within the New Testament was not
special?
Notice from the chart how many
contexts have been affected by this error.
The great
commission is affected
by
this false concept. How can we do what Mark 16 teaches since
miracles were involved? The command from
Pentecost is no longer valid because of the
miracles
earlier found in Acts two. The example of the
Samaritans is gone because of the miracles in Acts
8:6-7. The frequency of the Lord's
supper is affected because of Paul's inspired
discourse and the raising of Eutychus. Finally, the
explanation of calling on the name of the Lord being baptism to
wash away sins is impaired because of Saul of
Tarsus'
healing! Oh, what hash is made of the Scripture when men try to
justify the unjustifiable!
912 E. Teresa,
Sapulpa, OK 74066
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times since 8/12/96.