The Proclaimer
PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD
Edited and Published by Jack Critchfield
| Volume 5 Issue 10 |
October, 2001 |
In This Issue:
Is The Church Fluid And Open To Change?
A Bible Thought
Speak Boldly
Change Agents Are Working
Is The Church Fluid And Open To Change?
Leroy Brownlow
Some say, "Yes." Their battle cry is CHANGE: They do not want the restoration of Christ's church. They want to go forward with a new church, ever changing and blending with the times. They even deride the restoration of the New Testament church. They say if we are going to emulate a pattern, which one? Jerusalem with racism? Corinth with all its warts?
We reply: The church is composed of humans who err, and it is ludicrous to think that we would want to restore the church from the viewpoint of human errors. No, we restore the church from the viewpoint of divine teachings, some of which deal with errors. By planting the same teachings of the first century, we can reproduce the same church that existed in the first century (Luke 8:11).
We are hearing much ado about moving from the 20th to the 21st century. The peddling rhetoric is that we should go forward into a modern world with a religion that fits the times, less restrictive and more appealing. What a myth to think that flipping the calendar flips the right and wrong of any moral, or any worship, or any doctrine. What do the moving centuries have to do with it? Are we just a reed shaken by the wind (Matthew 11:7)?
Such a changing view of the church is the renouncement of Paul's command, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed" (Romans 12:2 KJV). The change criers have a religion in reverse. Instead of the church's changing the world, they are wi1ling for the world to change the church.
We are constantly bombarded with what is called the "dynamics of change," even by some in high places. No offense! Just fact! This is certainly suspect. For if the changes consist only of painting the trim on the building from brown to blue, or adding some more classrooms, or paving the parking lot, there is no real problem because these are in the realm of opinion - not matters of faith - and are immaterial.
This heralded theology that "the church must change," urged by prominent men in conspicuous places, can and will create a mind-set for the acceptance of perversions, innovations and the restructuring of the church. It paves the way for apostasy's bandwagon to roll down the broad road. Unfortunately, there are those who will board the ill-fated vehicle, not knowing where it will take them.
Now let's get down to some specifics concerning the contention that the church is fluid and open to change:
(1) Christ was the builder of the church - not some human (Matthew 16:18). Is this fluid and open to change?
(2) Christ built one church - not many (Matthew 16;l8; Ephesians 4:4). Is this fluid and open to change?
(3) Christ built His church on His deity and sonship - not on a human concept (Matthew 16:15-l8; Ephesians 2:20). Is this fluid and open to change?
(4) Christ is the head of the church - not some man or woman (Ephesians 5:23). Is this fluid and open to change?
(5) The Lord added only the saved to the church (Acts 2:41-47). Is this fluid and open to change?
(6) Only those who believed, repented and were baptized for the remission of sins were added to the church (Acts 2:36-42). Is this fluid and open to change?
(7) People had to be baptized to have their sins remitted (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Is this fluid and open to change?
(8) Only believers - not infants - were baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12). Is this fluid and open to change?
(9) The baptized were immersed, buried in water (Romans 6:3-4). Is this fluid and open to change?
(10) The church was set up with various congregations, each autonomous - Jerusalem, Corinth, Ephesus. Philippi, etc. - no denominational ecclesiasticism. Is this fluid and open to change?
(11) Jesus, the head of the church, stated, "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Is this fluid and open to change?
(12) Peter exhorted the people the day the church was founded to "save yourselves" (Acts 2:40), which proves that God's plan of salvation demands human activity. Is this fluid and open to change?
(13) Paul commanded members of the church - saved people - to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). Is this fluid and open to change?
(14) Jesus, the head of the church, stated, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Is this fluid and open to change?
(15) The only creed, discipline or church manual they had in the early church was the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Is this fluid and open to change?
(16) The members of the church were called Christians instead of "dists," "tists," "ites," etc. (Acts 11:26). Is this fluid and open to change'
(17) Holy Spirit-guided people took the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7) on the first day of the week (which comes every week), the same day they gave of their means (1 Corinthians 16:2). Is this fluid and open to change?
(18) The music the Lord provided in the worship was exclusively vocal, singing - no playing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Is this fluid and open to change?
(19) In the organization of the local church God taught that qualified men - not women - should be elders or overseers and qualified men - not women - should be deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Is this fluid and open to change?
(20) Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, taught that women are not to serve as preachers (I Timothy 2:12). Is this fluid and open to change?
(21) The early church continued in the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42). Is this fluid and open to change?
(22) Jesus with all authority in heaven and on Earth stated that the commandments of men render worship vain (Matthew 15:9). Is this fluid and open to change?
(23) The unique nature of the church following Christ instead of men pitted it against the spirit of denominationalism (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Is this fluid and open to change?
(24) Jesus taught His disciples not to fellowship blind leaders, to leave them alone, that "if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14). Is this fluid and open to change?
(25) The Ephesian elders were warned that from within the church men would arise and would speak perverse things and would draw away the disciples after them (Acts 20:30). Is this fluid and open to change?
(26) Paul stated, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Is this fluid and open to change?
(27) Concerning false brethren who had come in among them, Paul stated that they did not give in to them, not even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue (Galatians 2:5). Is this fluid and open to change?
(28) Paul commanded a preacher to take heed to himself and to the doctrine to save himself and the ones who hear him (l Timothy 4:16). Is this fluid and open to change?
(29) Jesus with all authority in heaven and on Earth taught that the way to heaven is narrow and only the few find it while the broad road that leads to destruction is traveled by the majority (Matthew 7:13-14). Is this fluid and open to change?
(30) In the Lord's final revelation to mankind, Jesus warned against the danger of changing His Word, adding to it or taking from it (Revelation 22:18-19). Is this fluid and open to change?
If the change criers do not wish to change any of the above-stated teachings, then why do they not specify what they want to change?
The contention that the church is to change because it is a living organism teaches evolution. Why should the church change because it is a living organism unless organisms evolve and change? There is the doctrine of evolution. Whoa! Wait a moment. The disciples of change have the wrong argument. The fact that the church is a living organism is an argument that the church is not to change because organisms do not evolve. God created man whole and complete no evolution, no changing. Likewise, God created the church whole and complete - no evolution, no changing.
If the change criers are right that the church as a living organism is to evolve and change in keeping with the changing cultures of the passing years, then years hence it may have no semblance of the church - evolve into a circus, country club, whatever. If what they say is right, then we can throw away the Bible and get a calendar - just let the changing years determine what the church becomes. If the church is fluid, as the disciples of change insist, then it is as unstable as water, conforming itself to the times and circumstances around it, as fickle as a winding river zigzagging here and there, often meeting itself coming back. Absurdity in its most ridiculous twists! No wonder some get dizzy!
In conclusion: "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom [church] which cannot be moved [shaken or changed to fit man's views], let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear," satisfied with the church God created (Hebrews 12:28). The changers are preaching the church should change, but Paul preached it should not change. And while I find Paul appealing, I find these brethren appalling. I love them. I weep for them. But an ocean of briny tears will not cleanse their misguidance of wanting to change the structure of the church.
Truth today! Truth tomorrow! Truth forever! With the Holy Spirit we affirm, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 ASV).
via Gospel Advocate, October, 1993
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A Bible Thought
James L. (Jim) Yopp
"...without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:16).
No person can please God without faith. Every righteous character of the Old Testament followed the Lord's will. Every disciple in the New Testament was to please God by faith. Today, one must believe in the Lord and in His will. Without faith, one cannot please the Creator. The reward for faith is a home in heaven. Such a promise should motivate all men and women to believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6), repent of one's sins (Acts 2:38, confess Christ before men (Romans 10:10), be immersed for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16), and live faithful for the rest of one's life (Revelation 2:10). This is God's plan for salvation. It is found in the teachings of the New Testament. Do you believe the Lord?
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One of the striking features of the apostolic work is the energy and boldness with which they proclaimed the soul-saving message of truth (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 4:29-31; 9:20, 22, 27, 29). They saw boldness in preaching the gospel as not only desirable, but morally obligatory: "praying...for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Eph. 6:18-20) They were constrained and compelled by divine appointment to boldly preach. We are under the same divine appointment: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)
Boldness is not arrogance or a display of "knowing it all." Such evil must never accompany gospel teaching. "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." (2 Tim. 2:24-26)
Thayer says the word which "boldness" translates means "freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech...openly, frankly, i.e. without concealment...without ambiguity or circumlocution...without the use of figures and comparisons...free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage...the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity." (491)
Bold preaching is not an "intellectual exercise" that leaves one wondering what the truth is, or whether we can even know the truth (remember Pilate's "what is truth?").
Boldness is being plain spoken in what one says. Clarity, not ambiguity, is a trait of gospel preaching. The "uncertain sound" is not characteristic of boldness (1 Cor. 14:8).
Bold gospel preaching draws attention to the message we preach, not the messenger (1 Cor. 1:18-21; 2:1-5; 4:9-13; Acts 14:1-7).
Bold teaching and preaching is the result of one's confidence (faith) in the credibility, accuracy and truthfulness of the gospel. Rarely will one who is unsure of his message show boldness in its proclamation. (cf. 2 Tim. 1:8-13)
But beware! False teachers can be bold, too (cf. 2 Pet. 2:18; Jude 16). Every message, no matter how boldly presented, must be analyzed under the microscope of inspired scripture to verify its credibility (Acts 17:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17). Then we can boldly live truth and teach it to others.
Bold gospel preaching has never received wide acceptance. Sin and error love darkness rather than light (Jno. 3:19-21). Even some brethren disdain bold preaching intended to spread the truth and save souls. Some refuse to publicly debate the gospel when differences exist, insisting that it does more harm than good. (Gladly the apostles did not share their thinking! Please read Acts 6:6-8; 9:29; 15:1-2; 17:1-4, 17-19; 18:4-5.)
Others resist publicly identifying teachers of error lest we "lose our opportunity" to reach them. But, it is because their error is public that a bold challenge is warranted! God knows that publicity vindicates truth and protects the innocent (Rom. 16:17-18).
Why does the Lord want us to be bold when we teach the gospel? He wants the gospel to gain publicity so that more may openly hear and understand its message of salvation (Lk. 12:3). Then, more will be saved by its power (Rom.1:16). Be bold, my brethren! (1 Cor. 16:13)
via "The Spirit's Sword", September 10, 2000
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Change Agents Are Working!
William C. Sexton
Jude tells us that there are those who have crept in that would turn (change) the grace of our God into lasciviousness. They must be identified, confronted and overcome! (V. 4)
"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4, NKJV)
We need to ask ourselves if we are aware of the agents and their real mission? Are we able to recognize them and have the courage to contend with the effectiveness God would have us to resist?
From the garden (Genesis 3) till today, there is one behind all efforts to change things from God's order to his. He is able to get people who are not all that aware, concerned, or dedicated to higher views, to do his dirty work. Some are very conscious of what they are doing, under whose power they are operating, deception being the main tool employed. Their mission is to deceive people, distract them from God's way, and attract them to do his work. There are many others, I'm convinced, however, who through ignorance THINK they are doing God a service, but in fact are destroying themselves and others who listen and follow (Cf. Jn. 16:2). Being deceived themselves, they deceive others!
Beloved, we need to first of all KNOW that we are charged with the responsibility of discerning and resisting effectively. We can know God's will, as it is revealed in the New Testament scriptures to govern and guide us today!
Secondly, we need to have faith enough to be actively engaged in contending with those who would lead us and other astray. We need to be able to identify their mission and tactics, regardless if they are deceived or willingly and knowingly are so engaged. Because the effect will be the same whether or not the agent moving us is sincere or dishonest in his/her efforts. Often it is done by a "friend" or one in whom we have confidence. And the more one is convinced that he/she is right, even while being terribly wrong, will work more energetically and persistently! The danger is increased!
Thirdly, we need to know the divine message delivered is complete, understandable, and effective if we will use it correctly. We have to put on the whole armor of God, which includes the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). We can save our souls, as well as educate, encourage, train others to be effectively engaged in contending and resisting the change agents, also. Various agents are involved. Beware, Peter tells us, lest we be led astray, even though we know the truth (2 Pet. 3:17).
1. Saying the scriptures are not complete, either NOT containing all that man needs to direct him/her in all that they do, or saying we need something in addition -- tradition, direct work of the holy Spirit or some combination of the two is destructive. Whether or not such is expressed - explicitly or implicitly, the message, reaction and results are the same!
2. Saying that the average person can't understand the scriptures, is an effective tool of Satan. If you can't rely on you own ability to read and understand, then you MUST of necessity relay on another, and that opens the way for the change agent to move in and say "See things need changing for the better."
3. Saying the Old Hermeneutics is man made (command/precept, apostolic approved example, necessary implication), and thus we need to develop a "New Hermeneutic" so we can do what we want to do is one tactic of change agents. When you depart here, there is no stopping place short of WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!
4. Get the church involved in various types of humanistic endeavors, practicing various aspects of the "Social Gospel." Congregation may start out with a very simple involvement, but then move on to all types of facilities emphasizing more and more the "here and now" rather than the heavenly message, mission involvement.
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Jack Critchfield, Editor & Publisher
403 Coit Way, Salinas, Ca. 93907
(831) 772-9557
jcritch@a1above.net