Who Is Responsible?

By Carol R. Lumpkin

No Bible student with his eyes half open will deny that the Lord’s church in various places is not following the New Testament pattern in respect to the work and activities engaged in. Such innovations as church support of human benevolent institutions, sponsoring churches, fellowship halls, camps, day-care centers, secular education, kitchens, recreational halls, etc., are common in our age. Why, may I ask? Has there grown up a generation of people who are wiser than God? Has the authority of Jesus Christ lost its appeal? Are people really convinced that God will accept such foolishness? The Lord’s church in many places which once stood for the truth can no longer be distinguished from modern denominationals. How regrettable!

Who is responsible for this sad appalling condition of the church of Christ in many places? Perhaps, we can answer by saying that each member of the local church must share the blame. God’s word must be respected and accepted as the authority to govern the church. The New Testament authorizes elders in every church (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5).

These men, meeting certain scriptural qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9), are to feed the church over which they serve (1 Pet. 5:2). Elders are subject to God in their oversight (Acts 20:28). Any change from the New Testament pattern would be without divine approval and sinful (2 Jn. 9).

Elders have no scriptural right to allow or to lead the church in a single practice which conflicts with scriptural authority. In a discussion some time ago with the elders of a liberal church of Christ at Newport, Arkansas, I asked for the authority for the use of the church building for scout meetings, Home Demonstrations Club Meetings, recreational rooms, baby and wedding showers, weddings with the organ. (They allowed all the above.) After some pressing they answered, (1) Matthew 28:19-20, and (2) the wisdom of the elders. Their idea being that perhaps this would be a means to teach someone the gospel of Christ. This kind of thinking and lack of wisdom are causes for the church of Christ being in the sinful condition it is in. Instead of wisdom on the part of the elders, it is a lack of wisdom. The Scripture cited does not begin to endorse such practices. What a shame! What a show of rebellion against God!

The attitude of many who meet with “liberal churches” is that the elders are accountable to God for what the local church does, and the members are not answerable to God for such. The attitude is wide spread. This reasoning would allow some people to worship with the Christians Church; after all the members are not responsible for what the leaders do. I do not buy this! This shows a vast absence and disrespect for divine truth, either knowingly or unknowingly. It spells sin any way you view it.

John wrote, “That those who go onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 Jn. 9). The church and/or the individual who engages in works not approved by Scripture do not have God, regardless of how good it may appear to be. A faithful child of God must not, more over he will not, aid, abet, encourage, or lend in any way his approval to teach or spread error (2 Jn. 9-11).

My soul, and your soul, will be saved only by complying with the truth, God’s word (Jn. 8:32). So it is very demanding on us to make certain the place which we worship follows the New Testament pattern. God will not accept anything but this.

We each are accountable to God for our own soul. Don’t you believe that it is necessary to do what God’s word teaches?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 5, p. 149
March 1, 1984

You Can

By Larry Houchen

The apostle Paul admonished the Philippians to “do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15). Christ had earlier said that His disciples were “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). In regard to associating with immoral people, Paul said, “I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5: 10). These passages teach that the first century A.D. was a crooked and perverse generation, that a Christian can not possibly remove himself from the world, and that Christians are lights in the world. With all the corruption in the government, the increase of crime far exceeding the proportion of population increase, more and more liberalized laws, and a nonchalant attitude toward authority, who would deny that the twentieth century is a crooked and perverse generation? Since the Christian is in the midst of such a generation, and since he can not get out of the world, he must then let his light so shine among men that they may see his good works, and glorify his Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Sometimes godly parents will decide to move to another section of the country so that their children will not have to be raised in an evil environment. Although sin is everywhere and is not sectionalized, it is also true that sin is generally more prevalent in metropolitan areas and where certain environmental influences (such as the movie industry) play an important role in the morals of the inhabitants. In other words, since without people there would be no sin, does it not logically follow that sin is often in proportion to the number of people? Whether one agrees or not with the foregoing statement, the fact still remains that Christians often change location in the interest of their children. Such parents are to be admired for their sincere interest in the well-being of their children. But what about those who stay behind? What about those Christians who do not feel a parental responsibility to move? Can they remain faithful and raise their children to be God-fearing children?

The statement is made in Genesis 6, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually ” (Gen. 6:5). The world had become so wicked that God decided to destroy the earth’s inhabitants with a flood. The Hebrew writer states, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7). Evidently, Noah and his wife had taught by word and example, and although they were unable to convince the rest of the world to repent, they at least saved their household. How encouraging the story of Noah is to those of us who are living in the midst of a crooked an perverse generation!

About four hundred years after Noah, the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot were striving with one another. Abram devised an amicable solution – a separation of the two families. Lot chose the city of Sodom for a dwelling place (Gen. 13:5-11). God determined to destroy Sodom because of its wickedness (Gen. 18:20-21). The only ones who escaped God’s fire and brimstone were Lot, his wife, and their two daughters (Gen. 19:16). Once again, parents reared their children to be God-fearing in spite of the environment.

The incidents of Noah and Lot prove that one can raise his children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” even in an unfavorable environment. It may not be easy living in a particular environment, but the responsibility to raise our children in the way in which the Lord directed (Eph. 6:4) is a command to be fulfilled regardless of the environment.

The pendulum usually swings in two extreme positions. There are Christians who never associate with outsiders. They make certain that their friends or children’s friends are either Christians or have parents who are Christians. That is one extreme. The other extreme is the “Christians” who never associate with other Christians. These individuals are only seen at services but make no effort and seem to have no desire to associate with other Christians during the week.

The responsibility of the Christian falls somewhere between these two extremes. If Christians never associate with outsiders, how can we convert anyone with the gospel? It was the apostle Paul’s practice to enter the synagogue on the Sabbath to preach the gospel. On the other hand, if “Christians” never associate with Christians, the evil influence is going to “rub off.” Paul said, “Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).

In conclusion, a Christian is to maintain certain moral standards (as based upon God’s Word) regardless of where he might be. The Lord has given us very definite instructions concerning how His people must live in a crooked and perverse generation – letting our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40)!

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 5, p. 145
March 1, 1984

The Disenchanted

By Frank Jamerson

Have you noticed that those who become disenchanted with the Lord’s system, and accuse the Lord’s church of being a denomination, often end up endorsing and joining a group that acknowledges its denominational status? If these folks are really opposed to denominationalism and interested in getting churches to follow the New Testament pattern, why do they join denominations?

No doubt, there are many church members who do not understand why denominationalism is wrong. They use expressions such as “church of Christ preacher . . . congregation of the church of Christ . . . I am church of Christ,” etc., that indicates a lack of understanding of the undenominational nature of Christ’s way, but I have observed that often those who criticize with great vigor such expressions among brethren become amazingly silent and cooperative when they join a denomination.

The Lord’s church is not a denomination and those who have sectarian attitudes and terminology need to be taught more accurately the word of God. Denominationalism is a work of the flesh. The word “heresies,” or “parties,” (Gal. 5:20) means “a choosing, choice; then, that which is chosen, and hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects” (W.E. Vine). The word of God says that “they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). If the church of which you are a member is a “denomination, ” you should get out of it! When a brother says that it “does not bother me to refer to the church as a denomination,” he is saying that it does not upset him to teach that Christ died for a work of the flesh! One has to be truly disenchanted to make such a statement.

I have often wondered why those who cause trouble in churches and make accusations that they are “denominations, ” become “trouble free” when they join a denomination. They suddenly are not opposed to denominationalism. Maybe it is for the same reason that Russian citizens do not criticize their system. Russia does not put up with it! Likewise, the denominations that disenchanted church members join would not put up with their criticism. Freedom to criticize denominationalism is about like freedom to criticize Russia!

Though we are not obliged to provide an audience for every critic, we should realize that criticism is the price of freedom. The alternative would be to submit to a central headquarters and accept whatever is handed down. The disenchanted church member who leaves the Lord’s church to join a denomination has lost his freedom because he has accepted denominationalism.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 5, p. 154
March 1, 1984

“Rise, Let Us Be Going”

By Kelton Whaley

The above words spoken by Jesus to His disciples (Mt. 26:46) serve well to bolster up our courage and zeal in the Lord’s work today in the face of criticism from within and worldliness from without. Our Savior, undismayed and uncomplaining, went steadily “about His Father’s a business” (Lk. 2:49). When He went into the garden seeking peace in prayer, His enemies came with swords and staves and led Him away to a hall of false justice.

In the face of mockery He was kind, gentle and loving. They took Him away as a sheep to the slaughter, and drenched Calvary with His precious blood. No evil power on earth could deter Him from doing His father’s will (Heb. 10:7).

During His personal ministry, His course was one never free from trouble and criticism. In the wilderness, He was tempted of the devil. In the synagogue when He taught, His hearers became angry and threatened His life. Yet, our Savior could overcome all the opposition of the world and could continue to go about doing good through faith and courage. He was never dismayed as we sometimes become in our work for Him.

Courage has been defined as “fighting with the handle after the sword has been broken.” Courage is that quality of heart which enables the Christian to meet danger and all opposition with Christ-like firmness and resolve without fear.

When the Israelites were about to do battle against the Syrians and the Ammonites, Joab said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth Him good” (2 Sam. 10:12). This is a ringing exhortation and challenge to God’s army today. One of the great needs of the church today is courage – courage to live faithfully, courage to preach the truth to saint and sinner alike, courage on the part of each child of God to support preachers who stand solidly for the Truth, courage to be a faithful, militant soldier of Christ and not a belligerent, arrogant “defender of the faith” but to always be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:17). Peter admonishes us to “add to our faith virtue” (courage, 2 Pet. 1:5). We must be of “good” courage.

Courage will bolster up enthusiasm. Emerson said, “Nothing very great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” A wonderful example of enthusiasm, or zeal, is recorded in 2 Chronicles 29:15, where we-read of Hezekiah beginning his reign over God’s people. The plight of the people was pathetic, but Hezekiah didn’t spend his time bemoaning the fact. He began with zeal to “do that which was right in the sight of God.” In his very first year he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, repaired them and brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together in the East Street. Then he said unto them, “Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.” The great work was accomplished and worship to God was restored. Hezekiah and the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people: for the thing was “done suddenly” (2 Chron. 29:36).

Such enthusiasm as that shown by Christ, Hezekiah, and the people, tramples underfoot opposition, prejudice and any and all other obstacles standing in the way of God’s army today. In view of that fact, we should be as all-out for Christ and righteousness as the world is for the devil and sin. How many preachers, elders, deacons and other Christians and congregations are causing such consternation among the forces of ungodliness that we are making the devil sit up late at night to plan countermeasures? It is true that some of our erstwhile brethren are building “million dollar launch pads,” but are sending up “firecrackers” of social gospel. Not much “old time religion” is being “exploded” by such efforts and antics. Some of us are doing very little to convert sinners. A Christian is not “normal” if he is not enthusiastic about being a child of God. We read in Romans 12:11 that the Christian is to be “fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” To be “fervent in spirit” simply means to be “on fire with the spirit,” or “boiling, seething with the spirit” in serving the Lord.

Prayerful meditation of the greatness of the stewardship we have received of our Lord will generate such enthusiasm within us until we, as the army of the Lord, will stand (but not stand still) and with a great shout echo the words of our Great Commander, “Rise, let us be going.”

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 5, p. 153
March 1, 1984