Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

We continue to notice the classifications of unchurched Americans cited in J. Russell Hales book Who Are The Unchurched? Our methodology is to consider what legitimate objections might be made by those in a certain classification and then to reply with what the Scriptures might have to say to such a person. We continue this examination in this article.

7. The Nomads. These are those Americans who cease to attend church when they move from one community to another. Inasmuch as our society is highly mobile, the number of unchurched Americans who have quit attending worship when they moved is sharply increasing.

I can think of no legitimate reason why a person should quit worshiping God because he moved from one location to another. However, it is a fact that many do. Whereas I have commented on legitimate criticisms leveled against denominations in previous categories, I would like to confine myself to discussing the Lord’s churches in this category for many Christians quit attending when they move from one location to another.

One of the criticisms which I have to make pertains to poor follow-up on those who are moving from one location to another. In my judgement, elders should help those who are moving to new locations to find a place to worship. I do not think that one is asking too much of elders to expect them to talk to moving members to tell them not to attend liberal congregations when they move, give the name of a sound congregation and preacher (if possible) to contact when moving to another city, and contact that congregation to make sure they make contact with each other. A few weeks after the move has been made, elders should contact the members to see if they have located the church in the new city and whether or not they are attending regularly. These considerations for those who are moving do not seem oppressive.

Furthermore, elders should advertise their locations in order to help those Christians who are moving. I have been on the road enough to sympathize with those who must be on the road often and locate a congregation in a strange city. I visited one congregation recently to attend a gospel meeting; the congregation did not have any advertisement of its locations in the phone book; its preacher’s phone number was unlisted. Needless to say, I nearly never found where I needed to be. For the sake of traveling saints, churches would do well to advertise their locations in well known periodicals, the daily newspaper, and the phone book. Churches should obtain and keep on hand several church directories to help those members who are constantly traveling.

The other side of this coin is that moving to a new location is a test of the strength of one’s commitment to the Lord. Some people attend church because mother and daddy attend this church, their friends go there, and other social reasons; when these people move to another location and these social reasons are not present, they sometimes cease to worship God. Such people were never truly converted to the Lord in the first place. Christians who are devoted to the service of God will assemble with the saints. They might have to drive a long distance or establish a new congregation to do so, but they will worship God. Those who do not have this intense commitment to the Lord are not pleasing to Him.

I realize that some of the matters which I have discussed under this category fall under the realm of judgment and expediency. However, we simply must come to grips with the fact that saints are constantly moving and many quit attending worship services after a move. Brethren need to work to prevent this from happening any more than absolutely necessary.

8. The Pilgrims. These are described as being in a transitional state so far as their beliefs are concerned. This is particularly true of college students who are trying to decide what they will believe.

I do not consider this group as forming a legitimate complaint against any particular religion; they are simply trying to decide whether or not they will accept as their personal guidelines what was handed down to them by their parents. Some are further down the road than the college years when they examine life’s values. There is nothing wrong with any given individual doing this.

The gospel, however, has the only legitimate answer for such a person. To a person who is questioning his religious beliefs and commitments to life, the preacher must present the Bible as the all-sufficient guide for life. Holding forth the word of God, the preacher directs these unchurched Americans to follow its teaching wherever it leads them. If an individual will accept the Bible as the only legitimate authority over his life, he will soon become a faithful child of God. If he does not, he will wonder hopelessly, groping for something to give meaning to life (whether it be an Eastern religion or some cult). There are many faithful Christians who began their search for meaning to life in exactly the manner presently described in this category. We encourage them to search the Scriptures daily to see if what is taught is so (Acts 17:11).

9. The Publicans. “The Publicans constitute by far the largest, group of the unchurched. They perceive the Churches to be primarily populated by Pharisees. They call those within the Churches hypocrites, phonies, fakirs and persons living double lives . . . . Either humbly or self-righteously, they say in effect, `If I cannot live up to expectations, I prefer to stay on the outside. There are too many half-hearted on the inside.'”

One does not have to be a genius to see the legitimacy of this complaint. Every church in America has people in it who are not living according to the moral and spiritual standards of God’s word. The world has heard preachers, song leaders and others use the name of the Lord in vain, seen them participate with the world in telling filthy stories, seen them conduct dishonest business deals, and other forms of immorality. They recognize that this is not Christianity and are repulsed by the hypocrisy which they see.

This should not prevent them from attending worship and serving God, however. The fact that there are counterfeit bills does not stop a man from accepting cash. The fact that some people who attend sporting events are hypocrites does not stop them from attending these events. Why should it stop them from attending worship? Frankly, I think that this is a cop-out used by a goodly portion of the world to excuse themselves from doing what they know God commands them to do! As a cop-out, this places the one who uses this right in the midst of the hypocrites whom he criticizes. The truth of the matter is that he does not want to go to worship but rather than plainly state that, he hypocritically justifies and rationalizes his sinful conduct. The person who is honest and sincere will see the good Christians sincerely trying to live according to God’s word; their number being so much greater than the hypocrites, he will recognize that one does not judge the entire group by a few “bad apples.” For this reason, I generally dismiss this objection as a cop-out.

10. The Scandalized. These people are “those unchurched whose rejection of the Church is based on the Church’s disunity. They see a proliferation of groups of `true believers,’ each of which claims exclusive possession of the keys of the kingdom . . . . Until such factionalism is healed, they argue, the Churches cannot expect to claim the allegiance of those who feel they are entitled to unequivocal answers spoken by the Churches in a common voice.”

Practically everyone of us has been exposed to this complaint from the unchurched. Even Jesus recognized it as a legitimate complaint; He said, “. . . either pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn. 17:20-21). Jesus recognized that disunity would cause people to be unbelievers. With over 1200 religious denominations in the United States, we should expect to hear this criticism regularly. Furthermore, we have seen the effect of division in the local church. When churches divide, inevitably some members will quit attending anywhere. Hence, division is producing infidelity.

All that I know to offer people such as this is the prophesy of God that these kinds of things would occur (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Matt. 7:15f) and that they test and prove the faithful (1 Cor. 11:19). The fact that others are not living according to God’s word excuses no one! Furthermore, the method of obtaining religious unity will be on exactly the same basis as salvation is attained. The world will not be saved all at one time; they will be saved one at a time. Unity will be attained in the same manner one at a time as each person decides to walk according to the same mind, make the same judgments, and speak the same thing (1 Cor. 1:10). So long as one person refuses to abide in the revelation of God’s word, total religious unity cannot exist. Hence, every individual can contribute to religious unity by deciding to walk in the light of God’s word and in that alone.

11. The True Unbelievers. These unchurched Americans are those who say that they are atheists, agnostics, humanists, secularists, deists and rationalists. Obviously, these people would find no reason to go to church. However, I am unable to excuse their disbelief without admitting a deficiency in the evidence. I am thoroughly convinced that the evidence to prove the existance of God and the deity of Christ is adequate (Rom. 1:18-22; Jn. 20:30-31). The only defense which I can offer for these unbelievers comes from a criticism of the infidels who are associated with religion. Many pulpits across this land are filled by modernists who have little more faith than these infidels. When the preachers do not believe, how can one expect them to lead others to faith? Proportionately, the number of unbelievers among the unchurched is small.

12. The Uncertain. The last group of unchurched Americans are those who give no reason for their lack of church affiliation. Obviously, I can offer little to these except to admonish them to believe and obey the word of God.

A Cause For Optimism

The picture of the unchurched American is not altogether bleak. Some of the surveys are reporting signs of optimism. For example, consider these facts:

Many of the unchurched – while not drawn to organized religion – nevertheless have positive inclinations toward organized religion and feel that “religion is a good thing”. For example, the overwhelming majority of the unchurched would like to have their children receive religious training.

At least half of the unchurched (52 percent or approximately 20 million adults) say they could see a situation where they could become a fairly active member of a church now” and would be open to an invitation from the church community (The Unchurched American, pp. 15-16).

The general attitudes of the unchurched look better than what I would have guessed. Notice these statistics:

* Nine in 10 (89 percent) say they would welcome more respect for authority in the coming year.

* A similar proportion (91 percent) would welcome more emphasis on traditional family ties;

* Seven in 10 (69 percent) say they would welcome more emphasis on working hard;

* Three out of every four (74 percent) would not like to see more acceptance of marijuana usage; and

* Six in 10 (62 oercent) would be opposed to more acceptance of sexual freedom (Ibid., pp. 5-6).

In addition to these trends, the following surprising statistic was given:

* Seven out of every LO (70 percent) would welcome less emphasis on money (Ibid.).

Though all of the attitudes of the unchurched American are not positive, these demonstrate that the message of the gospel is a message which many Americans are wanting and definitely needing to hear. With 20 million American adults saying that they would be receptive to an invitation to go to church, there is little excuse for us not giving them such an invitation.

We must, therefore, exhaust every legitimate tool in evangelizing the world, starting in our own back yards. Radio, TV, literature, personal evangelism, and any other tool which is effective must be tried to reach these lost souls with the gospel. Believing them to be dead in sin and doomed to everlasting hell, let us take the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 29, pp. 467-469
July 24, 1980

By Eugene Crawley

Some time ago this statement was made to in e in a conversation with a young man who was attending one of the “Christian Colleges” preparing to preach, and who had already been very active in the “Campaigns for Christ” and “Youth Rallies” which have become so prevalent. His description of these endeavors included such words as “tremendous,” “fabulous,” and “wonderful,” but not once did he use the term “scriptural.” Indeed these and many other things are “new to the brotherhood,” and are being readily accepted and promoted by not a few, especially those associated with the “Christian Colleges.”

It is my judgement that some, like this young man, are accepting these without ever stopping to consider whether or not they are in keeping with God’s will. They get so “carried away” with what they term “tremendous success,” “fabulous results,” and “wonderful response” that they conclude there has never been anything that has accomplished as much. Thus, they lose sight of the need for Scriptural authority. I am persuaded that some have no idea of how to go about determining whether or not a belief or practice is Scriptural. How pathetic for them to become so confused over seeming success; it cannot be true success because it is not based upon a “thus saith the Lord.” Just where has the Lord authorized such arrangements which bind together a number of local churches, and a multitude of workers from them in a combined drive like the “Campaigns for Christ” and “Youth Rallies”?

Certainly I agree that it. is “something new to the brotherhood.” It is also something new to God’s arrangement; but it is not new to the world; denominations have been having such for a number of years. The gospel needed as badly to be preached in the days of the apostles, but where do we have any record of their directing that such be formed to accomplish God’s purpose in proclaiming the gospel? Had such been needed, don’t you know that the apostles, directed by the Holy Spirit, could have, and would have, arranged for it?

God arranged for the local church to be the organization in and through which the gospel was to be preached (1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:1-3), and early churches accepted and faithfully discharged this responsibility, and every other work He gave it to do (1 Thess. 1:8; Phil. 1:5; 4:15, 16). Faithful churches are content with God’s arrangement, and continue to do the same today.

Opposition to such unscriptural arrangements does not mean that one is opposed to preaching the gospel, edifying the church, or caring for the needy ones; but rather manifests love for the truth, respect for Scriptural authority, and the desire to see souls saved.

We need to recognize that things like these which are “new to the brotherhood” are indeed too new to be right. A thing must be as old as the New Testament, that message proclaimed by the inspired apostles. May we all take a more discerning look at that which is being done, and resolve to stand firmly for the “faith once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

Such endeavors are “tremendous” departures from the New Testament, “wonderful” displays of ignorance of God’s word, and “fabulous” disrespect for Scriptural authority. Brethren, think!

Truth Magazine XXIV: 29, p. 466
July 24, 1980

 

By Steve Willis

It is about time again for the Great Uncover Up. It happens all over the United States, but I am particularly noticing it here in Florida. In fact it has been going on now for a couple of months. I am referring to the time of year when many people, including Christians, decide to go with the fashion of the world and uncover their bodies so that they can get the sun, or get into the swim – or whatever.

I know that this kind of dress is noticeable among men as well as women, but as a man, I notice it among the women. The fashion industries make little change in the men’s summer apparel, but it tries to make its great “advances” in the area of women’s swim wear and lounge wear. We might question the kind of advances that are made by the companies in light of the advances made by men toward women because of their clothes (or lack of them).

I am reminded of Adam and Eve and our minds’ pictures of them wearing their fig leaves. We read that they “sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings” (Gen. 3:7). They recognized their nakedness and their need to cover it up. Yet they were unsuccessful in their coverup, for God “made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them” (3:21). 1 wonder what God would make for some of His people if He were to meet them this summer?

I might remark here concerning the audience that I hope will read this article: I want fathers, husbands, wives, mothers, – men and women of all ages – to read this and cover themselves up or see that those in their family are dressing in the way that God would have His people dress. I say this because of an event that happened to me once. A lady was complaining of another young preacher’s exhortations to the church about covering up. She said, “Why, we are a bunch of old ladies; we don’t wear those kind of clothes. We don’t even look good in them.” It was not twenty minutes before I met her daughter. She came in wearing the miniest of mini-skirts, showing her – you guessed it -behind! That was not all! Ten minutes later, she was coming to lunch in her bikini. I could hear that lady saying, “We don’t need that kind of preaching.” Got the picture? I certainly did!

The admonition to a young preacher is: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, purity, show yourself (notice Paul did not stop here) an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). Note that word “purity” and see if you are able to reconcile it with the swim wear of today.

Wives were told that they could win their husbands in some cases by their “chaste” – not chased – “and respectful behavior” (1 Pet. 3:2). Women, beware that there are those whose eyes are “full of adultery” (2 Pet. 2:14); do not add wood to their burning passion. For this reason, the Great Uncover Up may be a matter of spiritual life or death. We might be instrumental in causing the death of others, and reduce our chances of gaining eternal life.

While you are making a sigh of relief by shedding some of those clothes, you may be making someone else merely sigh.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 29, p. 465
July 24, 1980

By Robert F. Hendrix

NOTE: (R.L. Kilpatrick, editor of Ensign (formerly Ensign Fair], recently organized one of W. Carl Katcherside’s Unity Forums in Huntsville, Alabama. A printed announcement gave this objective: “To open the avenues of communication between churches of the Restoration Movement, denominational churches, and individuals in the interest of Christian fellowship and brotherly love. ” The report filed here was made by Robert Hendrix, faithful preacher for the Gooch Lane Church of Christ near Huntsville. Often confused with another faithful preacher named Roger, Robert had done most of his preaching among churches in middle Tennessee and north Alabama.

Brother Hendrix is well qualified to analyze the current misnamed grace-unity movement. A fine son of his was tragically disturbed by the Ketcherside-Fudge doctrines and ended up forsaking the gospel of Christ entirely. Brother Hendrix said in a note accompanying his article, “If I had known this early in the game, I believe we could have had more success with helping him. ” This tragedy was unfolding during 1973 and was one of several such instances known to me personally which motivated me to publish reviews of Ed Fudge’s doctrines that year. To those who believe Truth Magazine `jumped the gun” and also dealt too harshly with the Fudge influence, let me say that for many like brother Hendrix’s son we acted too late and were overly patient. These latter are the faults, not those imputed by certain critics, for which I seek God’s mercy.

In his personal note, brother Hendrix added these comments on the Unity Forum: “At each session they served coffee and other free refreshments and overwhelmed everyone who attended with courtesy . . . this is what impresses those who are not spiritually minded and sets them up for converts – then to feed them with such hogwash as `do your own thing and you are still our brother’ keeps them hanging on. You would have believed that you were at a performance of the PTL Club by the way each session started, with Dr. Don Finto whooping it up with `praise the Lord’ exclamations, spontaneous singing, chanting of Scripture, hand clapping, closing eyes and singing, etc. Ed Fudge was there two nights along with . . . a few from Athens. It makes me terribly sad to see the deceit of the unknowing visitors taking place right before my eyes, for there are always some present who don’t know the right hand from the left. ” Brother Hendrix asked in one of the sessions if the man who had been lauding all the denominations thought that “the Lord planted the Methodist Church, Christian Church, etc., ” especially “in view of Matthew 15:13. ” He admitted that the answer is, “No. ” These comments accurately portray the technique of the so-called grace-unity movement. The unwary are subjected to a subtle combination of gushing courtesy, the popular do-your-own-thing philosophy, and an informal entertaining atmosphere which brings the worship of God down to the level of a high school pep rally. Ron Halbrook)

On the dates of April 15-17, 1980, brother W. Carl Ketcherside was featured in parlor “A” of the Von Braun Civic Center, in Huntsville, Alabama, in a “Christian Unity Forum.” As I sat listening, recording, and taking notes of what occurred in the 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions, and listening and asking questions in the Wednesday and Thursday 9:30 morning “Open Forum Discussion” sessions, the words at the heading of this article came to my mind. From some of the notes I am now rereading about what went on this week in this “Christian Unity Forum,” the following line appears on my note pad, “I feel that the thrust of this forum is shouting, `Loose, Loose, Loose,’ and we can have unity among all of our brethren.” Regardless of the subject of any of the five sessions that were carried out this week, without exception this thought seemed to jump out and grab you! I do not believe as brother Ketcherside, the featured speaker, and Joe Black (minister of the Cahaba Valley Church of Christ, Birmingham, Alabama), master of ceremonies and panel member on Open Forum Discussion; Don Finto (minister of the Belmont Church of Christ, Nashville, Tennessee), song director for all features, and panel member; and Bud Plaster (pastor of the First Christian Church or Disciples of Christ, Jackson, South Carolina) panel member, that the solution to uniting the religious world today is to “loose where Jesus did not loose.”

At four of the five sessions which I attended (I missed the Wednesday 7:30 p.m. gathering), the thought was expressed and stressed that we “should love everybody,” “all of God’s children are in some kind of error” (none is perfect), and consequently there is “liberty in Christ,” so we should be “loose” in our thinking on whom we can fellowship.

Brethren, I believe in and stand whole heartedly for “losing where Jesus loosed.” I also believe and preach the other side of the coin; Jesus taught in the same connection with losing that the faithful should “bind whatsoever had been bound in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). Paul charges that preachers should “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2), and two-thirds of that charge is not loose, loose, and exhort! We had better be courageous and faithful to point out sin wherever it pops up, and condemn it, as well as encourage and exhort wherever the situation is worthy of it, and be sure that the authority for doing both is God’s Word rather than the “think-so’s” or beliefs and feelings” of men.

It was obvious that the leaders in this Christian Unity Forum as well as the majority of those in attendance (possibly 150-200 was the largest attendance at any one session) were of the following opinions: (1) The body of Christ is made up,’ of “baptized believers in Jesus Christ.” (2) These “Christians” are in every denomination and regardless of what name one wears (Christian, Methodist, Baptist, etc.) or whether he insists on using the instruments of music, and many other things, he should be considered a bother with whom we are in fellowship in serving Christ. In the 7:30 p.m. opening address, “The Fellowship of Life,” the featured speaker used the church at Corinth as an example of how Christians should be loose and feel free to fellowship just about everything. He said (and I quote from my tape), “Now just remember this, 1 Corinthians 1:9, God is faithful by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now that was said to the church of Corinth, and the church at Corinth was a real doozie of a congregation. I want you to know that I have seen a lot of real congregations in my life that would rack your soul, but I have never in all the born days of my life, I have never seen one like Corinth. ” He went on in his great oratical style to expound on their being divided four ways over men, having lawsuits, believing in no resurrection, abusing the Lord’s supper, and practicing fornication and idolatry. His purpose was to leave the conclusion that we are entirely out of harmony with the scriptures to think we can’t fellowship just about everything and everyone today. This is the note on which the forum began and ended.

Brethren, let us not be taken by the smooth speech of men regardless of their supposed sincerity. God did not condone and fellowship those groups of sinful men in Corinth, neither will he do so in regard to the same sins today. He told the church to “. . . put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Cor. 5:13). This clearly shows that those who refuse to repent after proper discipline – both instructive and corrective – are considered to be disorderly (2 Thess. 3:6), and with such, Christians are “not to eat” (1 Cor. 5:11). Yes, brethren, being as narrow as “truth” (Jn. 17:17) as well as “losing where God has loosed” is the basis of Christian Unity.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 28, pp. 459-460
July 17, 1980