Truth Magazine

By Steve Bobbitt

A close look at the history of the churches of Christ will disclose a new movement. It has a new attitude. Great emphasis is upon the idea that the congregation ought to provide wholesome entertainment and fun for its young people. It has new facilities. First, an old cooler was moved into an unused room at the church building. Later a special room was equipped for parties and known as the Fellowship Hall and/or the Multipurpose Room. Recently churches have begun to erect whole buildings called Family Life Centers. These feature gyms, exercise rooms and such. The movement also has new personnel. Suddenly no church was complete without a Youth Minister. His job is to create and maintain a spate of recreational programs to keep the young people interested and involved in the church.

Along the way some brethren have protested. Yes, young people (as well as the others) need wholesome recreation, but is recreation the work which God wants His churches to do? Does the Bible authorize a congregation to build and equip game rooms? If so, where is the Scripture? The churches can provide wages for gospel preachers, but can they employ ministers whose sole service is fun and games? Again, where is the Scripture which authorizes a church to be in the entertainment business?

In this connection, consider this from a Tennessee church bulletin. It shows a subtle shift from truth to error.

“‘The church is not in the entertaining business.’ This and other statements are very common when activities for young people are being planned. There seems to be an attitude among many that Christians should only be concerned with spiritual matters and that any fun should be left up to the home. Therefore, any activity for teenagers from the congregation which is classified as ‘fun’ is suspect and inappropriate. But is this attitude right?

“To be sure the church is not in the entertainment business. Rather we have a responsibility before God to seek the lost, build up the church, and help those who may be in need (Matt. 28-.19,20; Eph. 4:11,12; Gal. 6:10). And, without exception, spiritual matters should be the first priority in our lives. But does this mean that Christians should not come together for fellowship and fun? If we cannot have fun with Christians, to whom do we turn? Any activity which encourages Christian fellowship among our teenagers should not only be desired, but greatly encouraged. Paul stated, ‘Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Cor. 15:33). May I encourage our parents to cooperate with us as we strive to provide a wholesome and Christian atmosphere for our young people. I have seen too many teenagers caught up in the wrong crowd for us to neglect this very vital area” (my emphasis).

The subtle shift is this: from the organized congregation to the private lives of its members. This brother betrays himself. It is apparent that he does not understand the distinction between congregation work and personal duty (see 1 Tim. 5:8,16).

This leads to a false dilemma. “If the church doesn’t entertain them, they cannot have good clean fun.” That is not true. We need not choose between church entertainment and no entertainment at all. How did young people ever survive without Youth Ministers, Fellowship Halls and church entertainment? I know how. They recognized that such is a personal duty, not congregational work. They had read 1 Corinthians 11:22,34 and 1 Timothy 3:15. You need to read them as well.

A church should support gospel preachers who preach, not Youth Ministers who entertain. Its facilities should be used to spread the truth, not to spread the table. It should train its members to work hard and to play well – at home.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, p. 326
June 7, 1984

By Larry Ray Hafley

Are you a yo-yo?

I was raised in the Lord’s church and obeyed the gospel when about eleven years of age. For the early part of those years, I felt secure in Christ, until “church of Christ preachers” convinced me I was a “yo-yo.” You know how a yo-yo works, up-down-up-down; well, their “creed” was like that, saved-lost-saved-lost-saved-lost. I never knew I was saved, except at the exact ending of a prayer. It set me to wondering, “I love God with all my heart and want to do His will but, suppose as I am failing asleep, I have an evil thought, then lapse into sleep before I am able to ask forgiveness, and then die, I am separated from God and lost.” Sounds worse than the doctrine of unconditional election, doesn’t it? But I ceased long ago to be a yo-yo, for now I am a Christian secure in Christ Jesus …. I have eternal life right now. (Barney Cargile, Jr., as quoted by Stanley Paher in Vanguard Magazine, March 1984)

Issues are not settled by “church of Christ preachers” nor by determining that something “sounds worse than the doctrine of unconditional election.” But if one is a yo-yo, well, I suppose that is the end of all controversy.

Actually, anyone who believes a child of God can fall from grace and be restored is a yo-yo, even brother Cargile. As proof thereof, note the following:

(1) Simon the Sorcerer was a lost man who was saved (Acts 8:12,13; Mk. 16:16). Afterward, he sinned and his heart was not right in the sight of God (Acts 8:22,23). Doubtless, with repentance and prayer, he was restored. That sounds like “lost-saved-lost-saved” to me. (2) The Corinthian brother who had “his Father’s wife” had been saved, but was lost because of this “deed” (1 Cor. 5:1 -11). Later, it appears that he repented, was forgiven and restored (2 Cor. 2:6-8; 7:8-12). Would that “up-down-up-down” status make the Corinthians yo-yos? (3) The Galatians had been called “into the grace of Christ” (Gal. 1:6). They did, for a time, “run well,” but subsequently fell “from grace” (Gal. 5:1-7). If some were returned by Paul’s letter, they were out of grace, in grace, out of grace, in grace, i.e., lost, saved, lost, saved. Real yo-yos! (4) “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven time: but, until seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21,22). Super yo-yos! (5) In the Old Testament, God’s people were delivered from Egyptian bondage, lapsed into idolatry and unfaithfulness, were again delivered into bondage, repented, were restored and proceeded to repeat the cycle over and over again. See the book of Judges. From this we conclude that the yo-yo syndrome is of ancient origin. Indeed, the history of Israel reads like national yo-yosim.

The truth regarding controversial passages and views concerning the endeavor of children of God to walk in the light is not reached by the string of a yo-yo. The first time I was ever ridiculed by the “yo-yo” charge was by a Baptist preacher in debate. So, forgive me for being a little sensitive about my yo-yo position, even though it may be “worse than the doctrine of unconditional election.”

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, pp. 324-325
June 7, 1984

By Ron Daly

The Greek word christianos is used only three times in the Greek New Testament (cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). It means, “a Christian, a follower of Christ” (Thayers, Lexicon, p. 672).

Some brethren are having difficulty determining who Christians are and where they are. I believe the recent discussions concerning this issue prove a fact, which has been my judgment, based on observation for some time, viz. there are some “among us” who are of the opinion that there are saved persons in all churches. Consequently, they are forced by the implication of their own statement of affirmation to support the view long held by denominationalists, that the heaven born, Spirit revealed, blood-bought, and heaven destined church of the living God is just a denomination among the various denominations; hence, membership therein is not essential to pleasing God and being saved! I believe that the implication of their statement is heretical, schismatical, and sectarian. I intend to show why in this brief article.

All Churches Do Not Please God

There are not saved people in all churches because all churches do not please God! Denominationalism is a state of religious division and chaos such as the Bible condemns in explicit terms (Gal. 5:20). There is no way that one can be saved (i.e. a Christian) and exist in such a state. But, denominationalism is such a state that the Bible condemns. Therefore, one cannot be saved (i.e. a Christian) and be in denominationalism. Remember, a Christian is “a follower of Christ.” One cannot be a Christian and go where Christ does not lead him through His word (Jn. 12:48)!

Christ Did Not Die For All Churches

Secondly, there are not saved people in all churches because Christ did not die for all churches! According to the Bible, Jesus “with precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” purchased one and only one church (1 Pet. 1:18-29; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25,26,29)! Denominationalism is no part of the one church which Christ purchased with “his own blood,” and is, therefore, not a system for which Christ died.

One Must Be In Christ

Next, there are not saved people in all churches because one must be in and remain in Christ in order to be saved! People who are in denominations are not in Christ, consequently, they are not saved. If they are not saved, they are not Christians. Salvation and all other “spiritual blessings in the heavenlies are in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Out of Christ are no spiritual blessings and no salvation. Those in denominations are out of Christ and are, therefore, without spiritual blessings and salvation!

Not All Have Been Redeemed

There are not saved people in all churches because people in all churches have not been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ! Redemption is “in Christ through his blood” (Eph. 1:7). Those in denominations are not in Christ; hence, they are not redeemed through His blood. And, if they have not in their present state, been redeemed through His blood, they are not saved! And, if they are not saved – redeemed – they are not Christians! One cannot be a Christian, and be not saved – not redeemed! To say and believe otherwise would be a contradiction of terms.

Not All Have Obeyed

There are not saved people in all churches because people in all churches have not rendered full obedience to the gospel of Christ. It is the gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1: 16), and one must obey the gospel or be “punished with everlasting destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of his might” (2 Thess. 1:79). Obeying the gospel includes faith, repentance, confession, baptism and growth in righteous living (cf. Rom. 10: 17; Acts 15:7; Rom. 10:10; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 2 Pet. 1:5-12; Phil. 1:27). Those in denominations have not done these things; hence they are not saved.

Not All Offer Scriptural Worship

There are not saved people in all churches because people in all churches do not worship according to the apostolic pattern! God’s people “broke bread on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7), put into the treasury whatever they were “prospered” (1 Cor. 16:1-2), “prayed unto God through Christ” (Acts 2:42; Col. 3:17), taught “one another in psalsm, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16), and “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (i.e. what the apostles taught, Acts 2:42). One must worship according to the pattern in order to be saved. Those in denominations do not worship according to the pattern; hence, they are not saved (cf. Heb. 8:5; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jn. 9-11).

Not All Wear The Right Name

There are not saved people in all churches because people in all churches do not wear the name Christian, through which one glorifies Christ in particular! Their religious names are divisive and give glory to some man or doctrine peculiar to that particular denomination. So, one often hears of “Baptist Christians,” “Methodist Christians,” etc. No such terminology is found on the pages of God’s holy word! One cannot be a Methodist and a Christian at the same time, nor can one be a Baptist and a Christian at the same time! In other words what makes one a Christian will not make him a Baptist or Methodist! You are as likely to plant corn and get watermelons as you are to preach the word of God and get a Baptist or Methodist based on the word of God alone! Men are made Christians by “the seed which is the word of God” (Lk. 811). One seed will not produce two different kinds of fruit. God’s immutable law of reproduction is, “seed after their own kind” (Gen. 1:11-12)!

Conclusion

What does the foregoing have to do with our title “Christians only and the only Christians”? This is it: When men do what has been enumerated from the sacred text, they will be Christians only; nothing more and nothing less. And, if the same men happen to be the only ones on earth who “obey from the heart that form of teaching whereunto they were delivered” (Rom. 6:17-18), they will be the only Christians! Members of Christ’s church are the only ones who have done thusly, for when one obeys the gospel, the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:41,47)! And, it is not narrow and sectarian to insist on what the Bible authorizes; it is right to do so (Matt. 7:13-14; Lk. 13:24).

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, pp. 323, 344-345
June 7, 1984

By Hoyt Houchen

Question: Recently in a Bible class we had a discussion as to whether a church can appoint deacons to serve where there are no elders. Will you please discuss your understanding of the Scriptures on this matter?

Reply: Scriptural authority is established by one of the three ways: (1) expressed command, (2) approved example or (3) necessary inference. There is no command, no example nor any inference in the Scriptures that would authorize a local church to exist with deacons, but not elders. This situation, therefore, would be unscriptural.

Deacons are to be selected and appointed as servants of the congregation. The word “deacon” is from the Greek word diakonos and is translated by Thayer: “one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master; a servant, attendant, minister” (Greek-English Lexicon of the N. T., p. 138). Since deacons are servants, if there were no elders, who would oversee their work? Furthermore, deacons do not have any ruling power over the congregation. Elders are the ones to rule or oversee the local church (1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17; Heb. 13:17). In view of this, deacons cannot scripturally take the place of elders. There is absolutely no scriptural authority for a local church to exist with deacons, where there are no elders.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, p. 324
June 7, 1984