Truth Magazine

By Earl E. Robertson

The apostle Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God . . .” (1 Pet. 4:11). There is no divine directive more needed today than this one in the midst of denominational jargon and theological palaver of preachers and elders. One church recently advertised in the Firm Foundation, “Youth Evangelist applications being accepted by progressive, spiritually minded fellowship. Send resume of experience, references and salary needs to Roswell, NM. Note: no legalist need apply. Also send statement of personal beliefs re: grace, faith, Holy Spirit. A grace-oriented church.” Now that language truly reflects the attitude of the so-called liberated church. Liberated, yes, freed from the shackles of scripture so they can both say and do what they want.

The word of God says our speech must be as the oracles of God and our doing must be in the name of Christ (by His authority) (Col. 3:17). Any person with reverent familiarity with the New Testament knows nothing of the above language describing that New Mexico church. Yet, many people now want this kind of “fellowship” and will argue loud and long that it is all right, while at the same time designate all who would object as legalists. They would feign make us think that they believe the Bible to be the word of God and that they believe they must obey it. Yet, our very efforts to cause men to obey the Bible are declared by them as the actions of a legalist. They are “grace-oriented” and those demanding Bible for religious practices are, by them, legalists. We know the voice of the Savior (John 10) and we also know the voice of the modernist!

The loose attitudes presently being formed (some all ready formed and being pushed) lead to modernism. The path many preachers and churches are now walking will take them to a position where they can stand with men like Harry E. Fosdick. Deny this if you will, but if you continue to teach and practice what you now are one generation (your children) -will prove that I am correct. We remember the modernism of the past generation: Wilburn, Box, Sanders, Warren, and Roy Key. We remember what they said about the Bible being a “blueprint” for the legalists, and that they wanted freedom. When these men were identified and exposed they left their former hiding and went fully into denominational churches. Little things lead to big ones!

Our speech reveals the heart with all its attitudes (Prov. 4:23, 23:7) What we say and the way we say it determines whether we are safe or unsafe teachers. Much around us sets the pattern for religious behavior. Influence of our teachers is overwhelming. As Guy N. Woods recently editorialized in the Gospel Advocate, expressing his appreciation for having had the privilege to sit often at the feet of men like Hardeman: “It is for me most fortunate that the concept of the Junior Church was yet with the denominations when I was young because it is most likely that were such the practice then I would not today be attempting the work they did . . . . Suppose we had been shuttled to a `junior auditorium’ where we were amused by puppetry while N.B. Hardeman or some other great gospel preacher spoke only to adults!” This “Junior Church” concept is, as Guy stated, from the denominations and it is a tiger around the neck of the liberal churches of Christ. But it came into existence by men who did not “speak as the oracles of God.” Any departure in practice from apostolic doctrine is usually attributable to the fact that the teacher has ceased to speak apostolic doctrine.

The cry of legalism heard in some cities today is the same cry heard in the past generation. It will not take much more time to see the same end-results. When men grow tired of doing what God’s word says, they begin to take liberties with that word. Men of this attitude desist from speaking as the oracles of God, castigate all others who do “tell it like it is” as legalists while insisting that certain heretics are faithful gospel preachers! As one modernist, flying under the flag of being “grace-oriented,” wrote, “The church of Christ holds to a Pharaisaic Biblical literalism that blinds its members to their mission in today’s world and makes it impossible for them to meet modern problems in an effective way. The Bible becomes a blueprint with exact details for all work and procedures. Nothing can be done and no procedure used for which the `blueprint’ does not give example to command. Such literalism not only stymies the activity of the church but leads to endless and futile quarrels about insignificant details and methods. The non-instrumental aspect of worship is one such result, but hundreds, just as unimportant and irrelevant to the world’s needs, could be listed. I am changing to the Disciples of Christ to find more freedom of life and work and to find more spiritual compatibility in Christian service.”

That is the only direction loose speech leads. Reread Col. 3:17 and 1 Pet. 4:11.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 30, p. 490
August 2, 1979

By Jeffery Kingry

This article will likely land me in a pickle with some brethren. It seems as though some articles I write, though obviously directed at the abuse of a system, are invariably taken as a blanket disavowal of the proper use of the thing. In this series of articles we are attempting to direct attention to the biblical concepts concerning the quality of life in Christ. I am not opposed to free enterprise or to selling a product for a profit, or even a preacher working for a short while to supplement his support (or provide it). I have done all three, and believe that Christians have the liberty to do so. But, one thing Christians do not have liberty to do is practice covetousness, worldliness, exploitation, materialism, and indulgence. Our Lord is our example, and that is what this article is about.

There is a sordid canker which is eating away at the hearts of hundreds of brethren. The materialistic society we live in, and the love of gain of the saints gripped by it is destroying whatever chance some may ever have of enjoying the good life.

This writer has observed for several years the effect that a desire for gain has had upon brethren. To deny that materialism and its temptations are not existent among those brethren who scramble to sell soap, powdered protein and vitamins, “personal work” kits, books, papers, encyclopedias, insurance, mutual funds, and other “part-time” pursuits is to deny reality. Not every brother who involves himself in such work for gain is necessarily covetous, but this writer has seen enough to wash his own hands of the contaminating influence in his work as a preacher.

My first contact with the seamy side of the “get it quick” way to riches was in 1968. I had just returned home from a lonesome and brutalizing year in Viet Nam, enrolled in Florida College. The very first person to visit my wife and me in our apartment was an ex-preacher. We were pleased and impressed that his empathy would move him to come by and say hello. But, within five minutes of his arrival, he began his prepared talk on Amway (“It’s the American Way!”) and the Amway plan. Expensive soap, and its sale would end our financial worries and put us on easy street if we just had sufficient faith and would invest a small amount of our time and money. When it become obvious that we were not about to spend (having barely enough to meet our needs as it was), our brother closed his briefcase, apologized for leaving so hurriedly, turned down a cup of coffee, and was off to his next appointment.

We had received our first Amway burn. Through the years I have seen young men of promise quit preaching to chase the Amway dollar. I would see Amway bucks eat the heart out of congregations as brethren chased Amway prospects instead of the Gospel. In their deceived the blinding greed I have heard “Direct Distributors” explain how their Amway business enabled them more opportunities to preach the Gospel than they ever had as preachers. They even believed it, they had repeated it so long as justification for leaving the fields of the Lord to plow their own fields with dollars.

Recently a new product has arisen to capture the minds and hearts of brethren who feel they do not have enough. Several preachers contacted me while I was preaching in Annapolis, Maryland to sell “Slender Now,” a “fool-proof” means of weight loss. (The powder and vitamin diet supplement sells at an inflated cost, and is actually inferior to products selling at half the cost in healthy food stores. Recent set-backs in the industry caused by people whose electrolyte balance was disrupted by the modified fasting diet, and who ultimately died, have caused Slender Now to go out of business.) One brother called me long-distance from Pennsylvania in an effort to “sign up” another distributor (every person signed up to sell the product becomes a source of income for the one who signs him up. A set percentage of whatever he sells goes to the one who introduced him. A refined system of parasitism that feeds on greed.) His long-distance call was somewhat puzzling, as he had never called me before, not even to announce their meetings.

“Well . . . If you are not interested in making money – Brother Kingry, then don’t listen . . . .”

“But, I am already fully supported in my work as an evangelist! “

“Yes, I know. But just think. If you sell `Slender Now’ you could be independent of the brethren. You wouldn’t have to raise support!”

“I don’t know that I want to be, or should be independent of my brethren.”

“Well,” he finished, “Many preachers are doing it. And that money that is now supporting you, could be going to other areas if you would just be reasonable. There is `Slender Now’ money going into the church treasury here and all over the U.S.A.”

At the Florida College lectureship a few years ago, the “Slender Now” Cadillacs were in plentiful and ostentatious show. As the week progressed, so did those who made their rounds promoting their respective products. Amway had developed a new wrinkle through the years. Did you know that Amway will make you free? All the preachers selling Amway wore gold lapel pins that declared “Free” on their suits to promote and advertise the freedom offered by Amway.

One brother, whom I have known for years and thought well of, was standing next to a brother who later that year was fired by the elders at a church where he worked over Amway conflicts. Both wore a free button. I walked up and asked “What does the free stand for? `The truth shall make you free?”‘ My friend was embarrassed, and obviously uncomfortable. He did not want to talk about it. His “sponsor.”- was quick to respond; “No. Something better than that! Amway will make you free!” As he went into his pitch I kept looking with wider eyes and astonishment at my friend. He shrank and crumbled in upon himself. He walked away, and when I saw him later that day, he had removed his pin. I never said a word. The blasphemy and sickness of it was too evident except to the most corrupt.

I heard from one of my brethren who had left one of the larger churches in the Tampa area over the sin that had been stirred up in that church by “Slender Now” and “Amway.” From the pulpit and Bible classes the prosperous preacher /salesman had been preaching, “Prosperity of a physical nature is a sign of God’s blessing.” The preacher had come when the church had been between preachers and said in a humble tone, “I have made my fortune in business, and now I devote all my energies to the work of the Lord, I will move here to work with you for free, for my needs have already been met.” His first acts once moved was to sign up the elders, deacons, and leader members to sell his product. He openly endorsed and preached the doctrine of Bildad, the Shuhite: “If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous” (Job 8). Of Bildad, God said, “My wrath is kindled against thee . . . for ye have not spoken the thing that is right” (42:7).

A Sordid Way

“Woe unto you who are rich! For ye have received your consolation. Woe unto ye that are full! For ye shall hunger . . thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 6: 24, 25; 12:20, 21).

Shame and woe upon the brethren who make merchandise out of their brethren, and look upon the church as their private fishing hole. These salesmen are like those described by the Apostle Paul, “He is proud, knowing nothing . . . supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself. Only godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they who will be rich fall into a. temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and destructive desires which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:5ff).

For the preacher,, God says, “Thou therefore, endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath called him to be a soldier . . . . If man therefore purgeth himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work” (2 Tim, 2:3, 4, 21).

Yet, the way of Balaam declares a “New Way” for the follower of Jesus: “Let us buy and sell and make gain from our brother’s need, that we might spend it on our own indulgence.” They claim to give proportionately to the church, as justification for their high degree of materialism. Yet, like the self-righteous rich of the day of our Lord, they give of their abundance, with no sacrifice from the reservoirs of plenty.

“We Are Just Like Paul!”

These rocks who lurk beneath the water to shipwreck the innocent have had the arrogance to declare a comparison between their deeds, and those of the Apostle Paul. “Paul supported himself by tent-making rather than take the money of the church, that he might be independent!”

The grotesqueness of this distorted claim is beyond comprehension. The apostle “suffered want” (I Cor. 4:9ff) that he might preach the gospel to the Gentiles without a hint of personal profit or commercial advantage that might be brought if he sought any kind of financial support from his new converts. In fact, Paul’s labor was in indictment of these very men, who as in Paul’s day use the brethren as a source of income.

“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them who desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers . . . . Satan’s ministers; whose end will be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:8, 15). Paul’s work of sacrifice, laboring with his own hands in honest work to further the gospel “taking nothing of the Gentiles because of His name’s sake (3 Jn. 6-8) is the exact opposite of those who come to “labor” with a church for “free” that they might take their money in a way other than directly out of the treasury.

Conclusion

I mentioned at the beginning of this article, that the writing of it would get me in a pickle with some brethren. “The rich hath many friends” (Prov. 14:20) who will rush to his aid and support. “The rich man’s wealth is :his strong city . . (he) answereth roughly” (18:11; 23). “The rich man is wise in his own conceit” (28:11) and will not hear a rebuke. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24), and yet some bold brethren are determined to try. My responsibility as a servant of God is to “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches . . .” (I Tim. 6:17). But it will always be the “rich men who oppress you, and draw you into court” (Jas. 2:6). The rich, and those who would be rich are those who fall into the snare.

The abundant life is not to be found in “something for nothing”: getting gain with little effort. It is not to be found in emulating the rich, but the poor. Satan offers cars, cash, freedom, and prosperity. They call gain godliness and evidence of it. Yet, they are wells without water, clouds carried by the storm, promising life, yet holding only blackness. When they speak their glowing testimonials of prosperity and riches, they allure through the desires of the flesh. Unaware and underpaid preachers are their prey. While they promise independence and glory, they themselves are the slaves of their own rotting lives, for as it is written “A man is slave to that which he serves.” They serve their own belly, even while they claim to share. Does this sound to harsh? These are the word that Peter used to describe the same kind of men 2,000 years ago (2 Pet. 2:15-19).

Those preachers and brethren who would not fall prey to covetous practices must reply, “Thy money perish with thee,” and serve God as a true soldier.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 30, pp. 487-489
August 2, 1979

By Ron Halbrook

Hope is desire plus expectation. Webster says, “Desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” In Philippi, some base men used a “damsel possessed with a spirit of divination” as a means to wealth “by soothsaying.” . When Paul healed her, these men were enraged because “the hope of their gains was gone . . .” (Acts 16:16ff). This girl did not represent mere desire of sordid gain to them. Their desire was made confident expectation through her. When the elderly Abraham “against hope believed in hope” for a child, he had no earthly reason to think his long-standing desire could be fulfilled. Against earthly odds, he laid hold of the heavenly promise. Believing that what God “had promised, he was able also to perform,” Abraham added confident expectation to earnest desire (Rom. 4).

The Hope Revealed In Scripture

The “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation” is hope (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). God promised Abraham that He would bring a Savior out of a prepared nation in a prepared land, to bless “all families of the earth.” After many centuries of revelation and preparation, God fulfilled his promise in the person of Jesus Christ (Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3). When Paul was called in question for his preaching, he said, “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers” (Acts 26:6). God’s promise was not a matter of human speculation but of divine revelation. “The God of hope” causes us to “abound in hope” through the gospel of Christ, blessing Jew and Gentile alike (Rom. 15:12-13). Our hope in Christ is not a feeble wish, a perchance, a maybe. It is “joyful and confident expectation” based on divine revelation.

Hope in Christ is not a speculation or theory about what God “might” do or “could” do. Rather, it is what He promises to do of a certainty. This hope is extended on a conditional basis. We receive its certainty and confidence when faith moves us to obey the gospel (Rom. 1:16; 10:16). “The God of hope” promises to make hope a reality for each of us when “we are buried with” Christ “in baptism” (Rom. 15:13; 6:4). A small band at Ephesus sincerely followed “John’s baptism” during the gospel age; when they learned that Christ had come, and believed on him, “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:1-5). This made them members of “one body’,” by “one Spirit.” They knew but “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God . . .” (Eph. 4:4-6). The one hope is our’s when we rise from the waters of baptism, but we must “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel . . .” Truly, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 2:12; 1:23, 27).

The “Lord Jesus Christ . . . is our hope” because he is its author, object, and foundation (1 Tim. 1:1). Hope in him is not based on speculation, but on divine revelation. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col. 1:5). This “grace of God” is a revealed message, “teaching us” His will, giving the “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Tit. 2:11ff; 1:2). The “lively hope” of final salvation in heaven stands on “a reason of the hope” (1 Pet. 1:3-5; 3:15). Hope’s reason is a man-and-plan, a revelation personal-and-propositional. It stands on specific, objective, unerring, infallible, divine truth.

Opinion, Theory, and Speculation Are Not Hope

In answer to a question from Lunenburg, Virginia, Alexander Campbell said those “sprinkled in infancy” who continued in sincere “mistakes of the understanding” belong to “Christ and the well-grounded hope of heaven.” This brought many loud protests from brethren who suffered denominational taunts such as, “Then we are as safe as you.” In two responses, Campbell admitted giving “only the fallible inference or opinion of mail,” not “strictest biblical import,” and he stressed “opinion” 34 times (Millennial Harbinger, Sept., Nev., Dec. 1837). E.G. Sewell later observed, “For an opinion can never save a soul, while the utterance of them may mislead some one. It was a mistake in Brother Campbell to utter such an opinion” (Gospel Advocate, Feb. 23, 1893, p. 121). Below, another such opinion is expressed:

Is There Hope? It seems quite often that questions surface regarding the status of those outside Churches of Christ – whether or not there is “any hope” for those sincere people who are attempting to follow Christ and the Bible but find themselves in denominations and the like. I think it is pretty well regarded as a charitable statement to say something lie, “If God wants to save those people come judgement day, that is His business; as for me, I can offer such people no hope whatsoever that they might be saved . . .”

“I can offer . . . no hope.” Yes, that’s certainly true – “we” cannot offer anybody anything, let alone “hope.” The province of salvation is totally in the hands of God who made us and gave us this world to serve Him in. So it is not and never has been a question of what “we” can offer or explain or promise to those we consider “outside” the boundaries of the kingdom. Neither is speculation our role to play – the solutions and conclusions you and I can concoct have no binding force on God or eternity. But what we cannot offer because we have no authority to do so, God can, for He is God.

Is there any hope? We serve the God of hope. Jeremiah spoke, “Art thou not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on thee, for thou doest all these things” (Jer. 14:22). This is the God who “while we were yet sinners” sent Christ who “died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Is there hope? There is always hope! We do not serve a wicked tyrant God, but a merciful, loving, tender One who lives to love and gives that we might live. If we were talking about some other deity, some humanly devised God we might with assurance say, “no hope . . .” But praise God we are not. Hope is the one thing that always remains despite all the human calculations and machinations. God is faithful and just – he is not petty and selfish like we are (Matt. 20:1-18).

To hold out hope for those outside our confines is not to cheapen the gospel, compromise the faith or turn grace into license. Rather, it is to acknowledge the God “who is greater than our hearts” (1 Jn. 3:20).(1)

The author says our speculations, conclusions, or opinions ought not to be presented as the revealed will of God, yet says “to hold out hope” to “sincere people . . . in denominations and the like” is proper. None of his passages touch the subject. Shall we hold out this hope as the one hope revealed in Scripture? Or is it not a feeble wish, perchance, or maybe, based on the author’s speculative opinion? Such grounds may apply equally to sincere Protestants, cultists (Mormon, Christian Scientist, Jehovah’s Witness), Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jews, humanitarians, heathens, and agnostics. Nothing, is gained but great risk is taken by opening the door to such fallible speculation. Let us urgently proclaim the one hope – joyful, confident expectation based on God’s infallible Word.

Endnote:

1. Complete text of articles by Bruce Edwards, Jr. in his Cross References, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Sept. 1977). Along the same line, an Alabama preacher told Jimmy Thomas that as to the question of whether baptism is essential to forgiveness, “We cannot put a clock on God’s grace.” Some of the Georgia preachers in the new unity movement, including Johnny Trotter, have publicly declared their “private” faith: people baptized with the denominational concept (baptized to demonstrate the salvation already received an outward sign of an inward grace) are in the grace of God and the body of Christ. This old theory of “Christians in every denomination” extends hope to people on the unbiblical basis of human speculation!

Truth Magazine XXIII: 30, pp. 485-486
August 2, 1979

By Mike Willis

I started saving a clipping or two the other day in which brethren were working hand-in-hand with denominationalists. Before a month passed, the number of clippings which I .had set aside for comment in “Quips and Quotes” had outgrown the column: Hence, I would like to relate some of these instances to our readers through this column.

The Lord’s people have been opposed to denominationalism ever since denominationalism began. The Bible condemns denominationalism. The wearing of human names is directly contrary to 1 Cor. 1:10-13; the baptism of denominationalism is generally performed on the wrong subject for the wrong purpose and by the wrong action; the doctrines of denominationalism are in conflict with each other; the organization of denominations is contrary to the simple organization of the New Testament church; the worship of denominations violates the pattern of New Testament worship in respect to virtually every act of worship. Hence, brethren have been seeking to get men to depart from denominationalism and become simple New Testament Christians. Literally thousands have heard and accepted the plea to become a Christian without becoming a part of any human denomination.

It is sad to notice with the passing of the years that those who have accepted the liberal position with reference to church supported recreation, church support of human institutions .(colleges, benevolent organizations, etc.), and the sponsoring church arrangement have gradually begun to accept denominationalism. That you might not think that I speak falsehoods, consider the following items of evidence:

Item 1: From the bulletin of the Eastland church of Christ (700 Gallatin Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37206), the following item was reproduced and reviewed by its editor Howard See: “Gallatin Church of Christ will hold a four day series of gospel meetings, beginning Sunday, with Wayne Smith, minister of Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Ky., as the speaker.”

From this announcement in this local newspaper, one could almost get the impression that the local Church of Christ and Christian Church were in complete fellowship with one another.

Item 2: The Mid-America Evangelism Workshop which was held in Indianapolis June 7-9 featured Marvin Phillips as one of its speakers. The bulletin published by the Shelbyville Road Church of Christ where W.L. Totty preaches reported that Brother Phillips “spoke on the 5th annual Canton Christian Conference, March, 1977, and the tapes clearly show he was in fellowship with them. He was telling them how they could grow, rather than pointing out their departure from the truth.” Another speaker for this workshop is Alan Bryan. Regarding him, the author stated, “He organized no less than a missionary society in Florence, Alabama, January, 1977.”

From the looks of the bulletin presently being edited by W.L. Totty, one could get the impression that he has turned “anti.” You do remember W.L. Totty, don’t you? He was the fiery debater employed by the liberals to do warfare against us “anti’s.” But liberalism has gone to seed and its harvest is not attractive to Brother Totty. He just wanted a little liberalism. Unfortunately, he is learning that there is no such thing as a little liberalism.

Item 3: A friend of mine mailed me a clipping from his local paper in Trenton, Florida. The article was entitled, “Old Fashioned Work Day At Ebenezer Baptist Church.” The article read as follows: “On Saturday, February 3rd, First Baptist Church of Trenton called an old fashion work day at Ebenezer Baptist Church, along with Pine Grove, Bronson Baptist, Sardi’s Baptist and Trenton Church of Christ, Priscilla Baptist and many more friends.” The article contained a picture showing these men,including those from the Church of Christ, erecting a Baptist Church building.

How much preaching do you suppose is being done from the pulpit of the Trenton Church of Christ in which denominationalism is being condemned? If its members are involved in erecting a denominational building, I seriously doubt that they are supporting a man to teach them that the doctrines of the Baptist Church are sinful.

Item 4: The Greggton Guide (4/22/79), the bulletin published by the Greggton Church in Longview, Texas (4400 W. Marshall Ave.), criticized the following activity of liberals in their area. The article was taken from the daily newspaper and reproduced in the bulletin. It was entitled “Good Friday Service Planned By Alliance.” The article read as follows:

The Longview Ministerial Alliance is planning a special Good Friday service in the First Methodist Church, 400 North Fredonia.

The noon service on April 13, will have six participants and the Rev. Bob Parrots, pastor, will introduce the program.

Larry Hall, minister of the Pine Tree Church of Christ will speak. Rev. Kenneth Mann, president of the alliance, will give the invocation.

Music will be under the direction of Dale Thomas of the Gladewater Church of Christ. Associate Minister Roy White of the Pine Tree Church of Christ will read scripture from 1 Corinthians 15 . . .

I would certainly be delighted to have those involved in these activities to explain to me how sinful it is for churches to observe holy days not authorized in the scriptures. I would also like to hear these men tell me whether or not they were in an equal yoke with these denominational preachers when involved in this ministerial alliance.

Item 5: This item comes to us via Contending For The Faith (April 1979), the periodical edited by Ira Y. Rice, Jr. which has been fighting the more liberal among the liberals for several years. This issue of the magazine reproduced the following from the Abilene Reporter-News (March 10, 1979):

Lynn Anderson, minister of Highland Church of Christ, will lead a “Church Growth Seminar” from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Elmwood West United Methodist Church, 1302 S. Pioneer.

Pastors, church leaders and Council of Ministries members from Brookhollow Christian Church, Grace Lutheran Church, St. James Methodist Church, Westminister Presbyterian Church and Elmwood West Methodist Church will participate in the seminar.

All other interested persons are invited to attend.

Have you wondered why the programs on Herald of Truth have had little doctrinal content lately? I suggest to you that those leading the Herald of Truth missionary society are no longer convinced that denominationalism is sinful; they see no difference in the Church of Christ and denominations. Hence, these programs have become so watered down that they do little, if any, distinctive teaching.

Item 6: The editor of Gospel Advocate was among those who were promoting the erection of an ecumenical interchurch center in Nashville, Tennessee. He finally resigned from participating in this but not because of doctrinal convictions. If I remember correctly, he cited his work load as forcing him to resign from participation in this. Yet, the very fact that he could work hand-in-hand with denominationalists shows us something about his doctrinal convictions.

I cannot list this last item without referring to North’s recent editorial in the Gospel Advocate (May 10, 1979) entitled “Our ‘Anti-Co-operation’ Brethren Should Come Back Home.” In this article, North implied that the “anti’s” were drying up on the vine and that those who are left should return to the old doctrines from which they had departed. Brother North, do you really believe what you wrote? Do you expect me to believe that those of the previous generation believed that it was right to pussyfoot with denominationalists as you brethren are doing today? Do you expect me to believe that those of the previous generation thought that it was right for churches to build facilities for and sponsor recreational events as you brethren are doing? Do you expect me to believe that those of a previous generation believed that it was right for churches to support colleges and orphans home from their congregational treasury? I do not think that you believe that yourself.

Even if a few isolated cases of this could be cited, that would not prove that doing these things was right or wrong. Grace us with an exegesis of the passages that authorize the church’s involvement in the activities in which you believe they may be involved. When we become convinced that the scriptures authorize these practices then we will be engaged in doing them; until then, we shall not. Until you can produce book, chapter, and verse demonstrating that the New Testament authorizes these practices, you resemble the prodigal son chiding his father telling him to come home!

Conclusion

The move to consider the Lord’s church a human denomination is gaining momentum among the liberals. Next week, I shall consider some of the conclusions which must be accepted once a person admits that denominationalism is right. One thing is obvious from these items of interest cited above: there are growing numbers of brethren who regard denominationalism as scriptural inasmuch as they have quit fighting it and begun working to support it.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 30, pp. 483-485
August 2, 1979