"A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof" (Jer. 5:30-31)?It was difficult to believe I wasn't attending a holy-roller convention. Oral Roberts, Pat Boone and every other holy-roller, Assembly of God, Pentecostal or Nazarene would have been right at home. The Red River Family Encampment is a paradise for false teachers who regurgitate denominational doctrines all over a crowd that loves it. Three predictable patterns emerged in all of the speeches.
The God of unconditional love is a just barely divine being who wouldn't hurt anybody. He would never ask you to change or do anything that would violate your rights or self image. He is a God who gives "high fives," who makes requests. He never makes demands. When this God speaks about hell, He really doesn't mean it, because He doesn't believe in fear motivation. Hell is just a cosmic joke, sort of a weak threat to get you to do better. The God I hear about today is so inoffensive that He's hardly worth believing in. (The Goodness and Severity of God, John W. Smith, Red River Family Encampment, 9:00a.m., June 25, 1996)Chris Altrock of Las Cruces, New Mexico, began his speech June 24th by saying he hoped he wouldn't have a topic like The Wrath of God. He said he would rather speak on God's love or grace. Then reading from Jeremiah, he launched into a plea for the church to embrace the "social gospel." Quoting secular sources on the income gap between the rich and poor, he said Judah was carried away captive because she failed to produce social reforms. Punctuating his speech with the language of Ashdod, he said Judah's "church was full" but they failed to manifest love for each other. This, he said, was what brought the wrath of God upon them. Then, like a true "change agent," he said "external reform must come or churches will die in this post- Christian age." Speaking on The Love of God, Joe Beam of Augusta, Georgia, had the unmitigated gall to compare his fellow heretics with those heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11.
Some of my heroes in the faith are sitting here. There's Willard Tate and Stanley Shipp and Jim Bill McInteer and if God were writing the 11th chapter of Hebrews today they and other people in this group here would be in that chapter. (The Love of God, Monday, June 24, 1996)Beam didn't manifest the signs of an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12) so I don't know how he knows what God would include in the Bible if he wrote it today. His speech was filled with subjectivity, from personal experience of his childhood, to stories of his own children. Then he took a swipe at the church for not making people feel loved.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me this I know, though the church has seldom made me feel quite so. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Father let him go. Jesus loves me this I know, for in my life he's made it so (Emph. JCB, Ibid).He not only took a shot at the church, but in Billy Graham style, said he knows God is real and Jesus loves him because he feels it in his life.
When I finally let God love me, I learned how to love God. And now it's not just something I sing. It's something I feel and I can say it in front of you. I love you, God and I'm not embarrassed. I love you, Jesus for what you've done for me and I love you Spirit for putting up with me and living in me anyway, Rom. 5:5 which I read by mistake (Ibid).A final example of the sectarian mush that was palmed off as God's Word was the direct indwelling/leading of the Holy Spirit taught by Phil Ware of Austin, Texas. Speaking on the topic of Abba Father, Ware demonstrated his ability as a spiritual contortionist. He twisted and wrested the Scriptures to explain that Abba meant something more special than Father. Had he ever known the Scriptures, he would understand that Abba is the Hebrew word for father and Paul made the point to the Galatians that, in Christ, God is the father of both Jews and Gentiles.
"The ways of Zion do mourn...Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper...Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow" (Jer. 1:4,5,12).The Red River Family Encampment, run by Jerry Lawlis of Pueblo, Colorado, isn't worth attending if you want the truth, unless you have a hay rake and just want to bale up liberals. On the other hand, if you want the kind of preaching you'll hear there, I recommend you save your money, stay home and watch Jan and Paul Crouch on TBN.
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Plumbline.
This paper examines false teaching
and false teachers.
Editor: Wayne Coats, $5 a year.
705 Hillview, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.
(Examining Some Statements of F. LaGard Smith)
"The wedding ceremony of baptism is certainly a
responsive act of love. But it is also a courageous act of humble
obedience -- a step we each must take" (F. LaGard Smith,
Baptism: The Believer's Wedding Ceremony, Nashville:
Gospel Advocate Publishers, 1993, p.204). "None of us can
presume to know about the eternal destiny of anyone, on the
basis of any question of doctrine..." (p.201). "Are
unbaptized believers destined to hell? Are those who have
received only infant baptism in eternal jeopardy? Only God
knows. On one level, these are questions we have no right
even to ask... Nevertheless, I would hope that God might
apply the "common law marriage" approach for those who have lived
a lifetime of service in His name without having participated
in the wedding service of baptism" (p.206).
Every honest reader can surely see
the contradictions in the
quotes above. On the one hand, if baptism is a step we all must
take, then God will not apply a common law marriage approach for
the unbaptized believers, and we can know for sure the eternal
destiny of those sinners who remain unbaptized. On the other hand,
if God may accept those unbaptized believers, then baptism is not
a step we all must take. We cannot have it both ways.
On February 8, 1996, at the Freed
Hardeman lectureship F. LaGard
Smith spoke on the topic God's Message Is Settled In Heaven.
It was disappointing that brother Smith had the opportunity
to clear up any confusion his book caused, and instead tried to
make a defense of his indefensible statements.
During this lecture, brother Smith
taught some good things.
However, there was much that was false -- and extremely dangerous
-- in this lecture. In fact, it would take far too much time and
room to expound on all the difficulties brother Smith set forth
that night. The most distressing thing about the lecture was that
it (like the book quoted above) cast doubt on the punishment God
has promised for those who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ.
HE HAS PREDICTED?
"There are any number of other occasions where it
certainly looks like God changed his mind, even unassociated
-- and this is important -- even unassociated with repentance.
As was the case when Nineveh, you recall, repented as Jonah
went to preach to them, wholly unassociated with repentance"
(Smith).
Exodus 32 (the story of the golden
calf) and I Chronicles 21
(David's curse for numbering the people) were given as examples of
God stating a punishment, and then changing his mind "wholly
unassociated with repentance."
First, notice that the charge is
untrue. In both cases
repentance had to take place for the Lord's wrath to be turned
aside. When Moses came down from the mount he called on the people
to come stand by him if they were on the Lord's side. Those who
did not do so were killed (3,000 men, verses 26-28). How can this
be called "unassociated with repentance?" In the case of the plague
David's sin brought on Israel, David not only repented, he offered
a sacrifice on the threshing floor of Oman, and the sacrifice
appeased the wrath of God (1 Chron. 21 :18-27 and 2 Sam. 24:25).
It is a poor representation of these texts to say that God changed
his stated punishment without any repentance on the part of the
sinners.
But second, notice that both of
these passages are written in
language which is designed to accommodate our limited understanding
of God. Both describe God's reactions in ways we can understand so
that we will believe in his anger toward sin and in his mercy
toward sinners.
Third, and more important, both
passages are shadows of things
to come in showing us how salvation comes to men. Moses was a
shadow of our mediator Christ (1 Tim. 2:5), and the people of
Israel could not be saved unless they came to the mediator (Exodus
32:26). Similarly we cannot be saved unless we come to Christ
(John 14:6). In the case of David's sin, a sacrifice (a death) was
necessary to turn away God's wrath. Just as Christ is set forth as
a propitiation for our sins today (1 John 2:2).
When we understand these passages in
this light, they offer no
hope that God will turn from the punishment he has promised to
unbaptized sinners. No one can be saved without the advocate Jesus
Christ; we must be baptized into Him (Gal. 3:27). No sins can be
forgiven without His sacrifice, and we must be baptized into His
death (Rom. 6:3).
"In each instance that I've given to you the message
of God had been clear and unequivocal. Disobedience deserved
punishment. That message was settled in heaven before the
beginning of the world. Nevertheless, God changed his mind.
No! No! Not about the message, but about the just
disposition of those who had disobeyed the message. The punishment
he had promised received, on these two occasions, not to be
confused with any other occasion, necessarily, but at least on
these occasions received divine clemency" (Smith).
Why preach about a message that is
settled in heaven if you
don't believe that the threats stated in the message represent the
intentions of God? It is double talk to say that God didn't change
his mind about the message but simply "about the just disposition
of those who disobeyed the message." The commands of God, and the
punishment for those who do obey the commands are both part of the
message (2 Thess. 1:7-8). If God changes his mind about either
part of it, the message is not settled in heaven.
"On the other hand, sometimes we want to appropriate
the mind of God, as if by knowing the message settled in
heaven we can thereby put God in a box, and force him to be the God
we want him to be, to act, perhaps, as we would have him act,
to pronounce judgments precisely as we might reasonably
predict from the message we have received. What could be more
arrogant than appropriating to ourselves God's omniscient mind? or
subjecting God to our predictability? or assuming his seat on
the throne off final judgment?" (Smith).
God's final judgment will be
according to his revealed Word
(John 12:48). It is not my prediction that unbaptized sinners will
spend eternity in hell; it is part of the settled-in-heaven
message. To deny it, or to speculate otherwise is to deny either
the message or the faithfulness of God.
In Joshua 23:14-16 Joshua makes it
plain that the severity of
God is as sure as the goodness of God. Notice this partial
quote: "...not one thing hath failed of all the good things
which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass
unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Therefore it
shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you,
which the Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon
you all evil things...when ye have transgressed..." The
severity of God is as sure as his goodness.
Nahum 1:3 tells that God "will
not at all acquit the
wicked." If the promise of hell can be set aside, then can
the promise of heaven possibly be set aside also? The destiny of
those outside of Christ is a question only in the minds of those
who are ignorant of the message, or those unstable ones who
"wrest the scriptures to their own destruction." The
severity of God is as sure as his goodness.
St. Joseph, MI 49085
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In speaking of Christ's attitude
toward fellowship, most,
hopefully all, will have no problem understanding that fellowship,
as taught by the various writers, wrote that which was given them
by the Holy Spirit, and such was given to the Holy Spirit by Christ
(John 15:26; 16:13,14). It is interesting to note that Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John do not mention fellowship (koinonia)
as applicable to Christ and his people, but who would doubt that
fellowship is involved.
The authority of Christ is in the
written Word of the New
Testament (Matt. 28:18; John 12:48). The apostolic Word is the
Word of Christ (cf. John 17:20,21; Acts 2:42).
Directly related to the question
of fellowship is the matter
of unity (John 17:20,21). Where there is fellowship, there must be
unity (1 John 1:3). The unity for which Christ prayed was (is) to
be based upon the Word of God, therefore fellowship is based upon
the Word of God. With this clearly in mind then it is not
difficult to understand why faithful brethren cannot fellowship
those who follow the systems of men, while claiming to follow
Christ, and why faithful brethren cannot have fellowship with those
among us who are espousing salvation by grace alone; instrumental
music in the worship of God poses no violation of scripture; that
there are sincere, devout and knowledgeable Christians in all the
various denominations, so fellowship them; that we must have a "new
hermeneutic," plus a number of other erroneous areas of teaching.
When faithful proclaimers of the
Word of God preach
"Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), they must of
necessity preach "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27),
and such
preaching/teaching includes the Bible doctrine of fellowship which
becomes reality when the glorious gospel of Christ is properly
obeyed.
It is interesting to learn that
there are five Greek words
relating to this study: koinonia, koinonos, metoche
(nouns), and koinoneo and sunkoinoneo
(verbs). A basic definition of the above words as relating to
biblical fellowship is: "association, participation,
partnership, joint-sharing, communion." When an alien sinner
surrenders himself to Christ, through obedience to the gospel plan
of salvation, this enables that one to enter into a spiritual
relationship, becoming a partaker (koinonos) of the
divine nature (1 John 1:3). Fellowship with God is represented by
the vertical line, while the horizontal line refers to our
fellowship with one another. Vertical line fellowship is the cause
of the horizontal, and the horizontal is evidence of the vertical.
The fundamental principle of fellowship makes the unity of all
Christians a necessary thing. Biblical unity is neither optional
nor negotiable, it is required (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 John 9). If the
Bible writers missed the true concept of fellowship and unity, then
the Holy Spirit missed it, then to where will this take one (note
paragraph 1, introduction)?
Fellowship is well illustrated in
the unity of the physical
body. Each member of the body works in harmony with every other
member, each having a function to perform. When this does not
happen, we know that something is wrong with the body. The church
is the spiritual body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22,23; Col.
1:18,24). In the church there is spiritual fellowship with others
of like mind and understanding. This great fellowship is a great
brotherhood in Christ. It is here that all selfish, secular and
detrimental distinctions which prevail in the world are removed
(Gal. 3:28). We must be careful as to factions and divisions which
destroy the fellowship of the church (1 Cor. 12:25).
Fellowship in salvation:
It is through the gospel
that men are called out of darkness and ignorance of sin (2 Thess.
2:14). The obedient, as partakers of the divine nature, have been
called by God into fellowship (koinonia) with Christ (1
Cor. 1:9; 1 John 1:3). Salvation in Christ (Acts 4:12; 2 Tim.
2:10) links men together in holy fellowship.
Fellowship in worship: In
Christian worship we have
spiritual ties that bind us to Christ and to one another. The
first New Testament use of "fellowship" is in the very
important second chapter of Acts verse 42. Here is a relationship
between individuals involving "a common interest and a mutual
active participation" (M. R. Vincent). Acts 2:42 declares
Christian worship. Let us consider two items (or avenues) of our
worship. In the Lord's supper there is a sharing and a
participation (1 Cor. 10:16,17). Concerning the word
"fellowship" (communion) as found in Acts 2:42, Thayer says,
"the share which one has in anything, participation." The sharing
is in the benefits procured through Christ's death, and a
participation in it. Only those who have participated in the death
of Christ through faith, repentance, confession and baptism for the
remission of sins can enter into a communion with him in the
supper.
In giving there is
fellowship (2 Cor. 8:4).
Occasionally poor saints stand in need of help (cf. Rom. 15:26).
Here the word "contribution" is from koinonia
(fellowship). There is therefore fellowship in supplying needy
brethren, and fellowship with them as receivers. When non-saints
are helped (cf. Gal. 6:10; Acts 24:17 -- included in the word
"nation"), brethren have fellowship in supplying a need, but there
is no fellowship with the receiver.
It is through giving that we help
preach the gospel
(Mark 16:15; 1 Cor. 9:14; Gal. 6:6). Brethren have fellowship in
the spreading of the gospel and with the receiver (i.e., the
evangelist/teacher). Giving is a wonderful privilege because of
the opportunity for fellowship and it is a serious responsibility
for the same reason.
Fellowship in thinking: One
needs only to read Paul's
words to the Corinthians and Philippians (1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 4:8)
to know this. Our thinking must be alike regarding the essentials
of the gospel of Christ. Further, Christians are to think of
things true to fact, thus not hidden, things honest or honorable
therefore worthy of reverence, things upright or virtuous, things
free from defilement, things spiritually lovely
(acceptable/pleasing), and things reputable or fit to hear.
Fellowship in work: There is
a work to be done therefore
Christians are to be workers (cf. Matt. 20:1; Mark 13:34; 1 Cor.
3:9; 15:58; Titus 2:14). Mark 2:1-12, in principle, teaches self-
responsibility, work, cooperation, however we accomplish nothing
without Christ (John 15:4-5).
Fellowship in trials and joys:
Please read Romans
12:15; 1 Cor. 12:25,26; Gal. 6:2. As there is mutual sympathy in
the physical body for an injured member, so it is to be in the
spiritual body. Because one is a Christian does not mean that
sickness, sorrow, suffering and death are to avoid him. From the
book of Job there are words that are most appropriate for here:
"Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward"
(Job 5:7). As our brethren suffer because of persecution,
sickness, sorrow may we suffer with them. An interesting passage
to look at is Hebrews 10:32-34. In verse 33 we find the word
"companions." This word is from koinonos, thus
fellowship is involved. The other side of this is to rejoice with
those who are honored, who feel joy.
Fellowship in association:
Social activities that are
proper and biblical (Acts 2:46). Christians should try to spend
more time together than they do. It is a real joy to be with
brethren, converse about the Lord's work, discuss the Bible and be
strengthened in the faith. Yet, too often, we allow our fellowship
to begin and end inside the meeting-house.
Not every thought or the scripture
projected in the above
effort will find the particular words "fellowship, partakers,
sharers, participation, association, collection, contribution,
communication, or communion," but the lesson is there.
The New Testament presents to us
Christ's attitude toward fellowship.
Mayfield, KY 42066
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Revelation chapters 2 & 3
209 page book of 36 sermons,
$6.40 each, postage paid.
Cassette tapes of all 36 lessons, $25 postage paid.
Video tapes of all 36 lessons, $60 postage paid.
Order from:
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Honor To Whom Honor
Cark Bullock -- A Great Man
Brother Carl Bullock recently
resigned as an elder of the
Greenfield church of Christ in Greenfield, Tennessee. He
faithfully served this church for approximately ten years as one of
the overseers. During his tenure as an elder, his leadership and
knowledge of the Word of God helped the Greenfield church stay on
a straight and narrow path, for he loves the truth, lives the truth
and will stand for the truth. He always desired for the church to
be what God intended it to be.
Carl also served as a elder at the
Kimberly Downs church of
Christ in Lansing, Michigan, for twenty-two years and that was
after he had served that congregation as a deacon for ten years.
Again, there is no question of this man's love for the church and
willingness to serve God anywhere and in anyway possible.
To be an elder of the church speaks
volumes regarding the life
and character of this man of God. Few men ever attain such a
sterling character as Carl possesses. The qualifications of an
elder are clearly listed in the holy scriptures (1 Tim. 3:1-7;
Titus 1:5-10) and he lived such a life that met those
qualifications. He has spent his lifetime being a grand Christian
gentleman.
Carl is a man who is blameless and
lives above reproach. He is
so well thought of that if someone were to attack his character, no
one would believe them. Not once have I heard; anyone speak ill of
him.
Carl is worthy of praise for his
being a faithful husband,
loving father, and a good provider. Through these roles he has
gained years of wisdom and experience that has helped him be the
elder God desired.
On September 5, 1996, Carl and his
dedicated, sweet wife, Sue,
will be married for fifty-four years. Sue has been and continues to
be a Christian woman who loyally supports and encourages her
husband in the work of the Lord. If you were to talk with Carl, he
would tell you that he would not be the man he is without his
wonderful help meet.
Carl is a friend of faithful gospel
preachers. Brother Charles
Leonard, who preaches for the Danville church of Christ near
Rienzi, Mississippi, has known Carl since the middle fifties and
said of him, "I have known brother Carl Bullock for nearly forty
years. Having worked and worshiped with him in the past, I have
found him to be a person of honesty, fairness, and integrity. He
is a friend, supporter, and encourager of sound gospel preachers.
Carl always tries to do right and do what is right and best for the
church." So, preachers who love the truth love brother Carl,
because he loves and appreciates them for the work they do.
Carl and Sue have been great
supporters of good lectureships
because they love to hear the gospel preached. They have attended
the lectureship at East Corinth, the Seek The Old Paths
Lectures for many years and hardly ever miss a single lesson.
Carl and Sue are to be appreciated
and honored for their work in
the kingdom of Christ. The Greenfield church will miss his wise
leadership. So little is said to honor good Christian people
today, but it is so refreshing to know, love and appreciate people
like Carl and Sue Bullock. It reminds me of the following verse:
"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour" (Prov. 21:21).
250 CR 550,
Ripley, MS 38663
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