Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

In the last twenty years, the cause of Christ has been undermined by a false unity-in-diversity movement which extends fellowship to those who persist in disobedience to the will of God. Fellowship is extended to those who use mechanical instruments of music in worship, teach premillennialism, change the organization of the church in the sponsoring church arrangement and pervert the work of the church by having it involved in recreation and in financial support of human institutions (colleges, hospitals, and orphan homes), and teach false doctrine on divorce and remarriage and are involved in unscriptural marriages.

This movement generally has been tied to the names of Carl Ketcherside, Leroy Garrett and R.L. Kilpatrick. Among our liberal brethren, a sizable element has moved into the unity-in-diversity movement under the leadership of Rubel Shelly, Marvin Phillips, Calvin Warpula, and many others. The movement has also affected faithful brethren through the influence of Ed Fudge, Arnold Hardin, Bruce Edwards, and several others. These brethren have justified fellowship with those involved in what is admitted to be sin by several doctrinal positions. Ed Fudge and Arnold Hardin justified their fellowship with those involved in sin with their Calvinist doctrine of the imputation of the perfect obedience of Christ to the Christian. Many who reject this Calvinist doctrine but support unity-in-diversity justify fellowshipping those who participate in what is admitted to be sin with a doctrine known as “continuous cleansing.”

Statement of the Doctrine

The doctrine of continuous cleansing has never been formally defined, to my knowledge. However, it may be summarized as follows. According to this doctrine, the blood of Christ cleanses an individual “even as he sins.” The sins of a Christian, committed in sincerity, ignorance, piety, weakness of the flesh or anything else besides highhanded rebellion are forgiven by Christ without the recognition of those things as sinful or the repudiation and cessation of the practice. In other words, there is continuous forgiveness for continuous sins as long as they fall into certain categories as defined by various interpreters.

The argument goes something like this: Are you saved? Is it possible that you may be committing a sin of which you are presently unaware? If you are saved even though you are committing a sin of which you are unaware, is it not possible that members of the Christian Church who are unaware that using mechanical instruments of music in worship is sinful are also saved? If both are going to be saved in heaven, shouldn’t they fellowship each other on earth?

The assumption behind this argument to justify broadening the base of fellowship is that a person can be saved while continuing in the practice of his sin so long as he is good, honest and sincere. He is said to be saved because the blood of Christ continuously cleanses him of the sins he Continues to practice when he prays for God to forgive him of his sins.

Reply to the Assumption

The Bible teaches that one cannot be forgiven of sin without ceasing the sinful practice. There are a number of lines of evidence which show this:

1. Men were held accountable before Godfor sins committed in ignorance. Saul of Tarsus acted in all good conscience when he persecuted Christians (Acts 26:9; 23:1). Nevertheless, he was a “blasphemer, persecutor, and injurious man” (1 Tim. 1:13). Saul could not be saved in his ignorance but had to be converted to Christ to receive the remission of his sins. Saul had to cease the sinful practice of persecuting Christians.

Jesus warned of the danger false teachers pose to the souls of men through deceiving them with false doctrine. He said, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up, Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shallfall into the ditch ” (Matt. 15:13-14). The blind followers -men who sin in ignorance – will be lost! Ages before Jesus, Solomon said, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). Many who think they are in the ways of righteousness will be lost (Matt. 17:21-23). This does not impugn the justice of God because the way of truth can be known to those who seek it (Matt. 7:7-8; Jn. 4:23-24; Acts 17:27).

2. Christians are held accountable for the sins they commit in the weakness of the flesh. The Apostle Peter fell into sin at Antioch when he withdrew from the Gentiles for fear of the Jews. Although Peter was a man who generally “walked in the light,” he stood condemned for his sin (Gal. 2:11-14). Unless he had repented of his sins, he would have been lost. Peter had to cease the sinful practice of compromise with false teachers. Paul warned, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). Those who are overtaken in a fault need to be restored because they are lost.

3. Sin separates a person from God. One sin separated Adam and Eve from God (Gen. 3); Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for their sin in offering strange fire (Lev. 10:1-2); Uzzah was put to death for touching the ark when the oxen stumbled (2 Sam. 6:6-7). Isaiah said, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). Sin separates a man from God. Since using mechanical instruments of music in worship is a sin, it separates a person from God. The sinful practice must cease if the sin is to be forgiven.

4. The conditions for forgiveness include repentance. When erring Christians in the New Testament wanted to be saved from their sin, the Lord instructed them, as in the case of Simon the sorcerer, to “repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). This demanded the recognition that what one was doing was wrong and the cessation of the sinful conduct.

In 1 John 1:8-2:1, the Lord commanded men to confess their sins in order to be forgiven. He said,

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1:8-2:1).

A confession of sin demands that one recognizes that the conduct which he is practicing is sinful and that he acknowledges he has been practicing it. Less than this does not meet the conditions for forgiveness. A man may confess that he is involved in drinking, but deny that drinking is sinful; another might admit that drinking is sinful, but hypocritically deny his involvement in it. Neither of these constitutes the confession of which John is speaking. Confession, as a condition for forgiveness, demands the recognition that the conduct is sinful and the open admission of his guilt, followed by the cessation of the sinful practice. John the Baptist called this the “fruit of repentance” and said there was no forgiveness without it. This does not mean that the sinner must specify every sin or every occasion of sin, but he cannot persist in the sinful practice if he wants to be forgiven, as John made clear (Matt. 3:6-8).

A person cannot be forgiven of a sin so long as he defends his sinful practice as righteousness, persists in the practice of his sin, and encourages others to join him in the sin. The belief that God forgives a good, honest, and sincere man of his sins before and without his repentance (which includes the cessation of the practice of the sin) is of the devil, not from God.

If a person who is a practicing homosexual wants to be saved, we teach him the conditions for forgiveness. In order to be saved by the grace of God, he must recognize that his homosexuality is sinful and quit practicing his sin. He cannot be saved unless he repents. Similarly, those who are perverting the worship of the church by introducing mechanical instruments of music must recognize that using mechanical instruments of music in worship is sinful and cease the practice of their sin. Those who are perverting the organization of the church in the sponsoring church arrangement must recognize that the sponsoring church arrangement is unauthorized of God and cease the practice of their sin. Those who have perverted the work of the church by involving it in recreation and financial support of business enterprises (such as colleges, hospitals, unwed mothers homes, and orphan homes) must recognize that these practices are sinful and cease the practice of the sin. If we can understand the conditions for a homosexual to be saved by the grace of God, we can understand how the grace of God saves every man.

Application

Some are teaching that we should extend fellowship to those who are members of the Christian Church, for example. Yet, those who are in the Christian Church defend the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship as righteous, continue to use their instruments in worship, and encourage others to join with them in their sinful conduct. Others are extending fellowship to liberals who persist in church support of human institutions (missionary societies, colleges, hospitals, orphan homes, unwed mothers homes, etc.), the sponsoring church form of church organization, church supported recreation activities, and many other unauthorized practices. This fellowship is defended on the grounds that God “continuously cleanses” those who are involved in doctrinal and moral sins so long as they are good, honest and sincere.

Brethren in this new unity-in-diversity movement agree to quit condemning each others’ sinful practices. Those opposed to instrumental music in worship, church support of human institutions, church sponsored recreation, women preachers, etc. quit condemning these practices by their brethren, even though they believe them to be sinful. Though they have made an agreement to quit condemning what they admit to be sinful practices in others, brethren in this unityin-diversity movement persistently condemn any brother who calls “sinful” the practices which they themselves admit to be sinful and who encourages those involved to repent. The unity-in-diversity brethren display their newly found unity in joint worship services. Then they join hands with those who have apostatized from the truth to participate in those things on which both agree, such as benevolent relief. The bottom line is that those things which formerly were condemned as sinful are no longer opposed and soon are approved and practiced.

What Is Necessary to Have Bible Unity?

No serious student of the Bible can be opposed to Bible unity. Jesus prayed for unity (Jn. 17:20,21) and commanded that his disciples be united (1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-7). Much that is praised as unity is not Bible unity and is condemned by the word of God.

“Unity-in-diversity” is as self-contradictory as a “roundsquare,” In the unity-in-diversity movement, brethren agree to extend fellowship to one another while they continue to disagree about the worship, work, and organization of the church, or while they tolerate open departures from Christ’s teaching on divorce and remarriage, or while they embrace one another in spite of other moral and doctrinal apostasies. One could just as reasonably practice unity-indiversity with those who deny that water baptism is essential to salvation, Jesus is the Son of God, and God exists! We could have unity-in-diversity with each of these groups on the same terms as are presented for unity with brethren in the Christian Church and liberal churches of Christ.

Here are some requirements of true Bible unity:

1. Requires doctrinal agreement. John wrote, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 Jn. 9-11). Paul said, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). We are commanded to have. unity in doctrine, not unity-in-diversity.

2. Requires that all be in fellowship with God. Our fellowship should be limited to those with whom God is in fellowship. John wrote, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). Those who are not “walking in the light” are out of fellowship with God and those who are his children.

3. Condemns extending fellowship to those who persist in sin. The Lord condemned churches which tolerated teachers who taught men to sin. To the church at Pergamos, John wrote, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaarn, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Rev. 2:14-16). Then he wrote to the church at Thyatira, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Rev. 2:20).

Churches are guilty of sin when they welcome into their pulpits those who have taught men to sin, whether the sin involves mechanical instruments of music in worship, the sponsoring-church perversion of local church organization, church support of human institutions (hospitals, colleges, unwed mothers homes, orphan homes, etc.), false theories on divorce and remarriage, or other doctrinal and moral apostasies.

What Are The Limits?

Those who are teaching that we can extend fellowship to those who have apostatized because “we are all sinners” and “none of us stands righteous before God because of our perfect knowledge and obedience” need to tell us just how far God’s “continuously cleansing” grace reaches.

Already some are saying that it reaches to those who are in the liberal churches. (I wonder if it extends to the left wing of our liberal brethren – to those who are allowing women preachers, appointing women as elders and deacons, preaching in denominational churches, and such like things.) Does the continuously cleansing grace of God cleanse those who use mechanical instruments of music in worship, contribute to missionary societies, fellowship the pious unimmersed, and other things common to the independent Christian Churches?

Does the continuously cleansing grace of God cleanse that good, honest, and sincere person who does not know that baptism is immersion? After all, “none of us stands righteous before God because of his perfect knowledge and obedience.” Shall we therefore extend fellowship to those good, honest, and sincere folks who have never been baptized, such as those in the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches? Or does the “continuously cleansing” grace of God stop at immersion? If so, what makes water baptism so different from any other of God’s commands so that a person must be “perfect in knowledge and obedience” with reference to baptism before he can be cleansed by the blood of Christ?

Does the continuously cleansing grace of God cleanse those good, honest, and sincere modernists who deny the deity of Christ, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists? Or must one be “perfect in knowledge and obedience” on these propositions and issues before the grace of God will cleanse him from sin?

What I am trying to say is this: The principles advocated by those who teach continuous cleansing, if consistently applied, lead to universalism. There are none among us at this time who are preaching universalism, but that is the conclusion to which this doctrine leads. A person could be saved believing, teaching, and practicing anything so long as he was sincere, if the doctrine of continuous cleansing is true.

Conclusion

There are some simple solutions to the unity-in-diversity matter upon which all brethren can agree. Consider these:

1. Preach the truth. Let us resolve to preach the truth of God’s word on every issue without respect of persons and without regard to what results might come. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). We are admonished to “buy the truth and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23). Whether the truth pertains to the worship, work, and organization of the church, the role of women, divorce and remarriage, or water baptism, let us resolve to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

2. Preach conditional forgiveness. Let us resolve to preach the Bible conditions for forgiveness. To the alien sinner, let us preach that forgiveness of sins is available to him through the blood of Christ on the conditions of faith in Christ, repentance of sins, confession of faith, and immersion in water for the remission of sins (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:37; 22:16). To the erring Christian, let us preach that forgiveness of sins is available to him through the blood of Christ on the conditions of repentance and confession to God (Acts 8:22; 1 Jn. 1:7-2:1). The demands of repentance include the renunciation and cessation of sin.

3. Let us avoid preaching that one can sin with impunity. Any doctrine which teaches that one does not have to give account to God for his sins is wrong. Any doctrine that says that a man can defend his sinful practice as righteousness, encourage others to join him the practice of his sin, and continue in the practice of his sin without being separated from God, is wrong whether it rides under the banner of “once in grace, always in grace” or “continuous cleansing.” Both doctrines teach that one can commit sin with impunity.

The doctrine of “continuous cleansing” is wrong! The use of this wrong doctrine to justify extending fellowship to those whom we admit to be practicing sin compounds the sin. Let us repudiate the extending of fellowship to those we know to be practicing sin and reject the doctrine by which this fellowship is justified.

We do the sinner an injustice by leaving him with the impression that he can be saved without ceasing the practice of his sin. We truly love the sinner when we convict him of his sins and call upon him to repent. This is preaching the saving grace of God.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, pp. 706, 724-726
December 3, 1992

By K.A. Caldwell

After working with the Trigg Avenue church in Memphis, Tennessee, I have moved to Sturgis, Mississippi to begin a new work. My reason for leaving Trigg Avenue, after two and one-half years is because of the great need for a preacher in Sturgis. A mature brother will work at Trigg until they get a full-time preacher. While I was at Trigg Avenue there were 20 baptisms and many restorations. I thank God for the good done.

The Sturgis church has about 17 members. They now meet in a new building. This building was built by brethren from such places as Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. While the building was being constructed, several preachers spoke for the church in the evenings after the building was framed in.

Five years ago the brethren in Sturgis took a stand for the truth regarding the institutional question. In the process of standing, they lost their building because liberal brethren controlled the deed to their property. This is the reason the Sturgis brethren needed a meetinghouse. The faithful brethren in Sturgis are grateful to all of the brethren who helped to build their new building. This new building will hold about 90 people, has three classrooms, and allows plenty of room for parking.

I believe the possibilities here in Sturgis are great. In November we plan a gospel meeting with me doing the preaching. During this meeting I am preaching on first principles because of the large number of visitors expected. Sturgis is in the southwest corner of Oktibbeha County and is near several larger towns. We hope some visitors will come from these towns. On Sundays and Wednesdays we will have regular Bible studies. While in Memphis, I taught many home classes and I plan to do the same here in Sturgis. The reason I moved here is to save the lost and to build up the church. I plan to do this by preaching, visiting, and teaching in the homes of both saints and sinners.

Although I am single, I still must pay rent, utilities, insurance, car expenses, and other living expenses. My needs will total $2,300 a month. In addition, it cost $500 to move, and my deposits required another $500. As I write this I have been promised $600 a month support. Because the need is so great in Sturgis, I went ahead and moved without full support. I am fully willing to make sacrifices for the Lord’s work. I fully trust that God will somehow take care of his people when we are doing his work. I would be very thankful for any monthly support, or a one-time gift. Pray for me, and for the Lord’s work in Sturgis.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, p. 715
December 3, 1992

By Bobby Holmes and Ron Halbrook

When God’s people returned Babylonian captivity, Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the temple. In spite of great obstacles and widespread discouragement among the Jews, God promised the temple would be completed. How would that be possible? “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. ” When his people walk by faith in him, God gives them the strength and means necessary to accomplish his purpose though it does not seem humanly possible. When our efforts and opportunities seem small, we must remember the question God put to his people, “For who hath despised the day of small things?” No matter how small our resources, no matter how powerful the enemy, God is still on the throne of the universe. His eyes “run to and fro through the whole earth” (Zech. 4:6-10).

The eyes of the Lord run to and fro in Mississippi. In 1974 God saw lost souls hungering for the gospel among the black people in a rural area near Sturgis. The gospel was preached and several were baptized into Christ. The Lord was grieved when the liberal Lee Boulevard church in Starkville took the oversight of the Sturgis church (including control of its treasury and property) rather than teaching the brethren that each church is autonomous under Christ. Through the efforts of Mike Hurst beginning in late 1987, God opened a door for the saints in Sturgis to learn the truth on institutionalism. They removed their kitchen facilities and in early 1988 requested that their treasury and the deed to their property be turned over to them. They received their treasury but not their deed.

The liberal Starkville church first offered to sell the Sturgis church the deed to the Sturgis building for $35,000! Through the counsel and help of brother Thomas D. Keenum, Sr. (lawyer and elder in Booneville), Sturgis offered $17,000. The brethren felt it was better to make this offer than to engage in a bitter and protracted court battle over the legitimate legal claims to their property rights. Bobby Holmes and Ron Halbrook offered to inform brethren far and wide of the situation, with the confidence that God would help us to raise the money.

In November 1990 the Starkville church transferred the deed to a third church, the Hwy. 82 church in Starkville. After first agreeing to give Sturgis time to raise $17,000 in return for the deed, the Hwy. 82 church sold the property to a denomination, leaving the Sturgis brethren without a place to meet! As faithful brethren around the country began to hear of this cold-hearted injustice, they began to answer our appeals for help in raising money on an individual basis for a new building for the Sturgis saints. Though our brethren in Sturgis are small in number and poor in worldly possessions, they are rich in their faith toward God and in their loyalty to the gospel of Christ.

Thanks to the generosity of many brethren who sent donations small and large, a piece of land was bought and a new building has been erected. Nearly $25,000 has been given, most of it in small amounts. So many people sent donations that it has been impossible for the Sturgis brethren to personally acknowledge each gift. These grateful saints have asked that we use every possible avenue to express their heartfelt love and appreciation to each person who responded, whether by prayers, donations of money or materials, encouraging words, labor on the meetinghouse, or in any other way. The following paragraphs are a firsthand report by Bobby Holmes on the construction of the building.

Thank God – And Brethren Everywhere!

The new building for the saints in Sturgis, Mississippi has become a reality. After many months of praying and planning, we met at the building site on the morning of August 24 about 7:00 A.M. and began our work. The names of all who came to help are too numerous to list though they are listed in Heaven (53 total during the week), but, some I must mention. Brother Bobby Whitton from the Dallas Avenue Church of Christ here in Lancaster, Texas furnished the transportation with his pickup that he used to pull a trailer loaded with air conditioning equipment, all kinds of scaffolds, and other building equipment, and also a van that six of us rode in. Brother Whitton furnished the A/C equipment at his cost and installed it free.

“The bunch ” which came from Alabama included Johnny and Jackie Richardson, J.F. Dancer, and several others. Brother Buford Black offered to install the vinyl siding and saved us $2,450 on that item alone. Brother Ivan Logan drove all the way from Montgomery, Illinois Thursday to help. Two Spanish brethren who preach (Jesus Guerrero and Miguel Rocha) drove all the way from near the Mexican border to help (some 1,200 miles). They first stopped over in Dallas, Texas the week before to hold a gospel meeting, and then used the money that was paid to them to pay their own expenses to Mississippi.

I cannot express the feeling that each received as we worked together side by side to accomplish the task before us. There was complete unity and harmony in all things. Some of the wives came also and worked together with the sisters of Sturgis to prepare and deliver the noon and evening meals to us. We affectionately referred to them as our “Meals on Wheels” bunch. They prepared such good food and lots of it. By the end of the first day we had the building completely framed with all the inner and outer walls up. By the end of the second day the decking was all on the insulation boards on the sides and ends were all on and some sheet rock on the walls. By the end of the third day the building was completely wired. (Brother Sammy Splarm from Mt. Pleasant, Texas furnished the labor with his coworker Ken Johnson. He also furnished all the wiring, etc.).

We had preaching Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. We had an average of some 35 people with visitors from the community each service. There were many comments by both saints and sinners about real Christianity at work in this effort. Brother Alexander Caldwell from Memphis, Tennessee, a young gospel preacher there, heard about the work at Sturgis and went down and visited the saints there to discuss the possibility of preaching for them on a full-time basis. They very much wanted him to come and he agreed to move to Sturgis. I believe this will be “the icing on the cake” in regards to the continued work of the Lord in Sturgis. The saints there are thrilled about this development.

When we left on Saturday morning there was about 10% left to complete. The front doors and the ones into the auditorium had to be special ordered, and some of the brethren from Alabama went back to Sturgis on September 3rd and spent two days completing that part and some other things that were left. Brother Black also completed his work on the siding. At the time of this writing, there are several other items that are yet to be done such as painting the inside, installation of a septic tank system, pouring of the sidewalks, gravel for the parking lot, and tile on the floor. There is a real need for an additional $3,000 to be raised to complete this project.

So many have sacrificed so very much, and to each of you I say for the saints of Sturgis, “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!” There were many tears and hugs of thanks before the meeting broke up Friday night. It is a dream come true! If you can help in raising the rest of the money needed, please send your contributions to The Sturgis Church of Christ Building Fund, P.O. Box 418, Booneville, Mississippi 38829. 1 want to express my personal gratitude to all who came and labored. Several took vacation time and there were many that wanted to come but because of circumstances were unable to do so. Thank each of you for your prayers and deep concern.

A Message to Starkville’s Liberals

Let the oppressors of these saints in Sturgis take note. To the leadership of the Lee Boulevard church in Starkville, Mississippi, who through guile took the property away from these poor saints, God says he will judge the secrets of men one day.

Each of you will answer for your ungodly ways. The following Scriptures should cause chills to run up your backs. You have sinned against God and against these precious souls. You will answer for your ungodly deeds at the judgment bar of God himself!

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Psalms 59:5 says, “Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.” Proverbs 13:15 says, “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.” These same Scriptures apply to the leaders of the Hwy. 82 church that received the deed of the Sturgis saints property from Lee Boulevard, sold the property to a denomination, and knew it was not right!

There was nothing honorable or ethical, nor any resemblance of Christianity, in any of the deeds that were done in this matter. There is an all-seeing eye that takes in every deed that we do. May you hear and fear, and may that lead you to repentance before it is everlastingly too late! You may have won the battle, but you lost the fight! Real Christlike love has prevailed and the empty shell of liberalism has been exposed for what it is. These saints paid a price for truth, but like Job, were rewarded with more.

Observations on the Sturgis Story

A few observations are in order. First, a few souls lost in the darkness of institutional liberalism can still be reached when exposed to the truth, as can be seen with the brethren at Sturgis, but most liberals “have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return . . . their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased” (Jer. 5:3,6). The conduct of the Lee Boulevard and Hwy. 82 churches in Starkville shows how the liberals, by and large, have seared their consciences. Their shrewd maneuvers in taking the Sturgis brethren’s property shows that “they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Jer. 4:22). They are emboldened and feel justified by their apparent successes, popularity, and prosperity. “As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen fat . . . and the right of the needy do they not judge” (Jer. 5:27-28). It is ironic that an apostate movement built partly on false, emotional pleas for the church to “help the needy” (translated: send donations to “our” human institutions) can run roughshod over brethren who are so poor in this world’s goods.

Second, this situation shows the emptiness of liberalism’s plea for communication and unity. When the Sturgis church asked that its autonomy be respected in keeping with the New Testament, the Lee Boulevard and Hwy. 82 churches answered by taking the Sturgis brethren’s church building from them and selling it to a denomination. That is real 14 communication” and “unity”! During the Dallas meeting (July 12-14, 1990), speakers on opposite sides of the institutional issues studied together in an open forum. Cecil May, Jr. (President of Magnolia Bible College in Koscuiusko, MS) denied that the opponents of institutionalism had been quarantined by the liberals. He pled for open lines of com munication. Since brother May lives close to Starkville, Ron Halbrook wrote him letters on November 8 and December 24, 1990, informing him of the travesty being perpetrated on the Sturgis brethren, and pleading with him to appeal to the Starkville brethren on behalf of Sturgis. The second letter to brother May pointed out that the Starkville elders cut the line of communication which had been opened in an effort to help Sturgis. This letter said in part,

I know from your comments at the Dallas Meeting that you believe the charge that we have been quarantined is false, in spite of the editorial space and commendation given to a letter calling for that very thing in the 18 November 1954 Gospel Advocate. The brethren at Sturgis are being quarantined and put out of their meeting place of 17 years, unless they would like to “purchase” it for $30,000! Since these black brethren are very poor, felt helpless, and were at a loss to know what to do, brother Holmes tried to intercede on their behalf. He is now quarantined! I hope that I can expect an open line of communication rather than the yellow tag of quarantine from you.

Remember, the brethren at Sturgis are not newcomers, squatters, or robbers. They don’t wish to deprive Starkville of anything but only ask that their building not be taken from them! . . . . This church is still sincerely committed to following the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice, just as when it started. All they are asking is to be respected and treated as a separate, autonomous church under Jesus Christ. Will you speak up for them? I hope you will.

Think of depriving people purchased with the blood of Christ of their meeting place, and then “negotiating” to “sell” it back to them! And where will these poor saints find the money? Only a hardened conscience could perpetrate such an injustice, or be quiet in its presence. I can’t be quiet. Can you? I hope not.

Ron Halbrook also wrote to Darrell Holt, preacher at Hwy. 82, on January 31, 1991, pleading with him “to teach the Hwy. 82 brethren they have no scriptural right to hold the deed of another church’s property.”

All of these letters and appeals were ignored, but an answer has finally come. The Magnolia Messenger for October 1992 carries a picture of the new brick meetinghouse built by the Hwy. 82 church, which seats about 200. It was built with the money gained by selling the Sturgis church building! Brother May rejoices with brother Holt over the “progress being made by the Lord’s people in the Starkville community” (p. 8). Communication and unity in the minds of liberals mean the power to crush the poor and needy who serve the Lord and who refuse to bow to the Baal of apostasy.

Third, in spite of all the rejoicing and gloating of the enemies of truth, the gospel of Christ in its purity and simplicity will be faithfully proclaimed in the Sturgis community. These saints have continued to meet and teach the truth as best they could throughout this ordeal. The community has seen a demonstration of the faith and love shared by God’s people as Christians from around the country labored together for a week constructing the new building. The interest of people in the community is running high.

Brother Alex Caldwell has just moved from Memphis, Tennessee to Sturgis, ready to strike while the iron is hot, ready to follow up on new opportunities for preaching the gospel. The saints at Sturgis are ready and willing to work with brother Caldwell. They are anxious for the unsearchable riches of Christ to be preached without compromise, anxious to learn, anxious to bring others to hear the truth, anxious to help Alex make new contacts and get into the homes of people who need to be saved. (See the “Sturgis Report” from brother Caldwell.)

Two needs remain. About $3,000 is needed to finish paying off some outstanding debts and expenses on the church building. Individuals are invited to send their tax-deductible donations to the Sturgis Church of Christ Building Fund, P.O. Box 418, Booneville, Mississippi 38829. Individuals and churches are requested to consider the needs of Alex Caldwell for regular support as he labors with the church in Sturgis. Brother Caldwell is 34 years old, attended Florida College one year, gained practical experience with other preachers before entering full-time work, and has been successful in located work. Few black preachers stand openly against institutionalism, but brother Caldwell stands solid as a rock. He also preaches the whole counsel of God on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. His work is well known to brother Bob Bunting in Memphis, Tennessee (phone: 901-373-9250).

Who can despise the day of small things when Christians have shown such great faith against such great opposition and impossible odds? All who have had any part in helping the dear saints in Sturgis have been blessed (Acts 20:35; Jas. 1:25). It is a privilege to join our hearts and hands with those who are not ashamed to suffer for Christ. What does the future hold for this church which has come so far in spite of its fiery trial? Brethren, with the courage and stedfastriess of the Sturgis saints and with the zeal and soundness of Alex Caldwell, the cause of Christ will grow and spread in Sturgis. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, pp. 712-715
December 3, 1992

By Andrew G. Berendt

As you know, there is a nationwide campaign underway, being touted by everyone from the First Lady of the United States, all tire way down to local elementary school teachers. We are reminded by billboards, TV and radio ads, bumper stickers, and badges, to “Just Say ‘No’!” This modern thrust seems to have become rather effective in curbing the tendency to engage in immoral and harmful behaviors, as the high school students polled last year reported a decrease in experimenting with illegal drugs, for the first time since such surveys were conducted.

I heard a prominent denominational preacher, who delivered a very powerful and direct sermon during the late 1950s, in which he illustrated “The Power of a Positive ‘No.'”

I’m happy to report to you that wise king Solomon advised a long while ago, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent,” and further, “do not walk in the way with them ” (Prov. 1:7-19). He was encouraging the attitude of heart which comes from a deliberate and predetermined decision to “Just Say NO!” to any and all behavior which would jeopardize his standing with the Almighty. The very best way to prevail in the inevitable temptations which invade our sanctity and seek to estrange us from our Heavenly Father (Isa. 59) is to firmly decide in advance to always do what we know to be right! See also Exodus 23:2 and 1 Corinthians 15:33-34.

As the wise men is directing these proverbs to his young son (Prov. 1:4,8-10,15; 2:1; 3:1, etc.), his intent is to save his son from much of the misery and heartache which comes from these empty pursuits, which promise so much, and are simply incapable of delivering any satisfaction whatsoever. The reason these types of activities leave us feeling empty and guilty is that they are wrong! Solomon is showing us that the trial and error method is not the right approach to experience things that are contrary to God’s will. Faithful preachers have been telling us for years that there is no right way to do a wrong thing, and I might add, that there never comes a right time to do wrong things either!

We must, as parents, and otherwise responsible adults, set loving limits, as well as proper examples to all – especially our young charges. As young people – let’s look up to and carefully heed the wise and proper advice of our experienced elders, parents, preachers, and other teachers. As we read in Proverbs 3:11-18, that the Lord corrects those whom he loves, and that these warnings are for our good, and to keep us from doing dangerous and harmful things, that they aren’t given simply to deny us pleasure. See Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; 3:22; 5:18-20, and see that God wants us to have fun in life, but that we are ultimately responsible to him (Eccl. 11:7-12:1).

A final thought, as I find it helpful to study and compare various reliable translations of God’s word, is a “gem of wisdom” I discovered in Titus 2:11-14, reading from the NIV, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. . .”

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 23, p. 716
December 3, 1992