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People Change, Times Change, But The Lord's Church Will Never Change! Part 2

February 25 2004 at 2:42 PM
Jerry Pence  (no login)
from IP address 67.25.35.70


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People Change, Times Change, But The Lord's Church Will Never Change!
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• THE SEQUENCE OF CHANGE
THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE
CHANGES BLESSED BY THE ELDERS IN WORSHIP SERVICES
CHANGES BLESSED BY THE ELDERS OUTSIDE OF WORSHIP SERVICES
• CHANGES IN TEACHING BLESSED BY THE ELDERS
• ELDERS DENIAL OF KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THE "UNITY IN DIVERSITY" PHILOSOPHY

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People Change, Times Change, But The Lord's Church Will Never Change!


Jerry Pence



This article is written for members of the Lord's church so they may see how the "Unity In Diversity" philosophy moved into one congregation in North Carolina and how the "Change Agents" behaved during the process.



THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE


These and other changes are introduced subtlety by the "change agents" and many times in the beginning, you will only feel a small uncomfortable prick as each change occurs. After you get used to the pricks, the changes won't seem so bad. You can rationalize that these are just small things and it really doesn't make any difference, or you can feel guilty for believing the elders are teaching error. If you go to the leadership with your concerns, they will tell you not to be concerned, because they know what is best for your soul. And then, all of a sudden, you look around and the church that you loved, the church that Christ built, no longer exists in your congregation. Your heart will ache like you have never ached before. Then it is too late to recover. As you try to battle these changes you will be called a Pharisee, a legalist, a sectarian, and be labeled as judgmental. Being called names by these "agents of change" is immaterial compared to loosing your soul.

A list of changes instituted by the elders in 1996 are shown below. Not all of these changes are unscriptural. However, when the change process begins, changes are made for the sake of change to soften the bigger blows to come. The changes align with the "Unity In Diversity" philosophy and illustrates the types of changes that "change agents" will try to introduce.


CHANGES BLESSED BY THE ELDERS IN WORSHIP SERVICES


Responsive readings were conducted between the minister and the congregation. The minister read a passage of scripture and the congregation responded with the next passage of scripture that followed.

Recovenant services were held for the congregation to recommit their time, talent and money. The elders and deacons recommitted their services to the congregation and the congregation signed commitment forms as to what activities they would be involved in during the coming year. The elders also intended to let the children participate in the worship services. Each child was to bring a drawing to the front during worship and tell the elders what they had drawn to illustrate what they could do for the congregation in the coming year.

Changes in bulletin format were made to resemble denominational bulletins. Bulletins were gathered from denominational churches in the area to see what they thought were pleasing to the masses.

Secular holidays were commonly used as themes for sermon delivery.

The number of sermons decreased by changing the Sunday evening worship to Bible classes, and then replacing Wednesday evening Bible classes with "Helping Hand" projects. Helping Hand Projects included: making sleeping bags for the homeless, visiting the sick and shut-in, grading World Correspondence Courses, chorus practice, and children working on play practices. All of these are worthy projects, however, the children and adults were not getting fed with sound Bible study.

The number of sermons decreased by having more praise services. Praise services included: singing songs, reading passages of scriptures assigned by the minister, and by offering multiple prayers during the service. Often, no invitation would be offered in these services.


CHANGES BLESSED BY THE ELDERS OUTSIDE OF WORSHIP SERVICES


The role of the deacons was changed to prevent them meeting together as a group to make decisions about the physical needs of the church. Each deacon reported to a specific elder, who had meetings with his deacons and "ministry leaders." Ministry leaders are women who serve in the same capacity as deacons, but without the title of deacons.

Women were allowed to co-teach and teach adult mixed gender Bible classes.

Small group ministries were formed to allow members to meet in their homes during the week instead of attending mid-week Bible study at the church. This allows each group to have more flexibility in their worship.

The church "Chorus" performed at a local Baptist church on a Sunday evening in a Christmas concert.

The elders met with Christian Churches to determine ways to fellowship together. (1997)

__________________________________
Jerry Pence
722 Duluth Street
Durham, NC 27705

“Seek The Old Paths,” Vol. 8, No. 9

_________________________________

TO BE CONTINUED . . .


    
This message has been edited by ConcernedMembers from IP address 68.154.184.145 on Feb 25, 2004 5:16 PM
This message has been edited by ConcernedMembers from IP address 68.154.184.145 on Feb 25, 2004 5:14 PM


 
 Respond to this message   
Response TitleAuthorDate
 SHALL WE CHANGE OUR WORSHIP?Roger D. CampbellFeb 26, 2004
  Re: SHALL WE CHANGE OUR WORSHIP?JonathanFeb 26, 2004
   CONCERNEDBRADLEYFeb 26, 2004
   “Bringing in the unbelievers” (Jonathan, February 26 2004, 10:22 AM) Feb 27, 2004
 Change is hard but the church is still the lords churchA ChristianApr 4, 2005
  Rubel says... Sep 27, 2007
  Who is 'we'? Oct 2, 2007
   Re: Who is 'we'?Dr. Bill CrumpOct 3, 2007
 I'm disheartened Oct 5, 2007
  Does God answer prayer? Oct 5, 2007
   RE: Jimmy's postChrisOct 20, 2007
  Re: I'm disheartened Oct 6, 2007
   RE: Donnie's PostChrisOct 20, 2007
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...........................THE BOOK

What Happened at the Madison Church of Christ?


There are thousands of churches being taken over across America.

This book is only about one of those churches. It's about the Madison Church Of Christ. By studying the methods used here along with the resource references you might be able to inoculate your church. At the very least you will recognize the signs early on.

Many of the current members of the Madison Church of Christ still don't know what happened.
Some never will know! This book is for them as well.

Madison Church of Christ was a 60 year old church. At one time it was one of the largest churches in the US, and the largest Church of Christ.

It thrived for many years on the vision of it's elders and those of it's ministers. Those visions undoubtably came from the the inspired word of Jesus Christ.

At sometime in the last 10 years there was a deliberate plan by a majority of the elders to take the Madison Church of Christ into a more worldly realm.

They used secrecy, covert planning, and outside sources to scheme and to change the format and direction of the Madison Church of Christ.

The Elders knew that the membership would never approve such a plan. Using the tools of the "Community Church Movement"(consultants, books, seminars, meetings,planters,seeders) they slowly started initiating change so it was never noticed by the members until it was too late.....

At the heart of the plan was the fact that old members were going to be driven off so new techniques could be used to go out and reach the unchurched through new "Contemporary Holy Entertainment" methods developed by the "Community Church Movement"

Old members had to be kept on board long enough to get their plans ready, or the funds would not be there to pay for the new building. So by the plans very nature, it had to be secret.

The church had no plan in effect to renew or approve elders. There was never any need. The elders had always been "as approved by God". 10 of the last 15 elders would begin to shed some doubt on that.

The Elders did not even need a majority at first, because some of the elders went along unwittingly.

This edition starts shortly after some of the members begin to smell something strange in January 2001. Later editions may go back and fill in some of the timeline.

To even start to understand whats happening here, you must read the background materials in the first of the book.

This is only the first edition, and not the end. New editions will be printed as needed. To keep abreast of current changes, please visit our web site; http://www.concernedmembers.com/madison

Here is the list of players;

5 Godly Elders
10 Not so Godly Elders
120 "Deacons" (allegiance unknown)
2,800 - 4,000 church "members"
2 "teners" (people who have publicly confessed to have broken all ten commandments)
Unknown number of "sinners" (This is what the 10 elders call us.)
Unknown number of "demons" (Flying everywhere, to many to count)
 

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