This is one very important question that confronts each congregation of the church of Christ. The decision to change or not to change God’s will for the church must not be made by its own leadership without God’s direction and authorization. This thread has been initiated for the purpose of addressing this question, and a series of articles by John Waddey will continue to be posted.

Here’s introducing John Waddey, a native of Nashville, Tennessee and a lifelong member of the church of Christ, who has served churches of Christ in Mississippi, Colorado, Tennessee and Arizona. He has vast experiences in training young ministers and in Christian journalism. “He serves as minister of the West Bell Road Church of Christ in Surprise, AZ… He sees the internet as a wonderful tool, which God has provided for the spread of the gospel and is eager to share his knowledge with truth-seekers around the world.” For more information about the author and editor of the self-descriptive site, please link to:

Christianity: Then and Now

Please learn about what the author has to say regarding the “winds” blowing across the face of the brotherhood, and let us join the efforts against a “spiritual war” being waged against congregations before they are taken over and swept into apostasy.

Donnie Cruz
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“TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE?”
by John Waddey

Churches of Christ are standing at a critical crossroads. We face the same situation our forefathers faced in the half-century following the Civil War. Shall we continue in the old paths of New Testament Christianity that our predecessors in the faith traveled, or shall we change our direction? The road to the right is the road of ultra conservatism that inevitably leads to radicalism, faction and division. The road to the left is the road of liberalism. It leads away from the simplicity of the gospel to a denominational version of Christianity that stands without Christ's approval. It is the approach being promoted by those who are advocating “change” for our churches.

A hundred years ago the majority of those who were part of the movement to restore original Christianity chose the same road the agents of change are now promoting. Today they are identified as the Disciples of Christ/Christian Churches. The issues that distinguished that movement last century and the movement for change of today are virtually identical. When the digression occurred in the past, the surviving remnant, led by great men such as David Lipscomb, James A. Harding, Austin McGary and J. D. Tant had to rebuild, almost from scratch. But God blessed their efforts and today well over two million souls are identified with the Churches of Christ around the world.

Today winds are blowing gale-force across the face of our beloved brotherhood. They are urging us to abandon the old ways for new ways learned from our denominational neighbors. These winds, originating primarily from our large universities, are sure to drive the ship of Zion on the rocks of destruction, should they prevail.

The purpose of this site [http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/] is to address the changes being advocated; to examine them in light of Scripture. Each month we will post our journal, Christianity: Then and Now. We will review the books of the change agents as well as useful books that answer them. We will answer the questions our readers submit that relate to the problems before us. Additional materials will be posted on a regular basis. Should you find any of them useful, we encourage you to download them and distribute them, as you will.

Please join us in prayer that God will bless this effort and use this teaching site to the honor and glory of his Son and for the good of his church. Pray that we will do only good and no harm at all. If we can help one preaching brother to clarify his thinking and avoid taking the road to the left; if we can assist one eldership in protecting their flock; if we can help to reclaim one soul who has been beguiled by false teachers; if we can light a candle to guide one or a hundred in the way of Truth, our efforts will be well repaid.

Sincerely in Christ,

John Waddey

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A TEAM EFFORT TO PROTECT THE CHURCH FROM HARM
by John Waddey

A spiritual war is being waged against the brotherhood of churches of Christ. Across the nation battles are being fought as agents of change work to gain control of congregations, schools, and mission outposts. They are well placed, well-funded and well prepared for their conquest. They are fully aware of what they are doing and where they are going. They are highly motivated and confident of victory. Unfortunately the majority of those who are their intended victims are unaware of the danger facing them. Some realize there is a problem but seem not to perceive the extent of it and the imminent danger it poses. If we are to effectively block this takeover of congregations, which will result in their being swept into apostasy, those who love the Lord and his church must take action. We must act now and act decisively. We must recruit an army of volunteers and we must educate and inform our fellow-Christians.

AN OPERATION IN WHICH YOU CAN HELP

We need … Christians who have access to the Internet to join hands with us in an educational project … addressing some aspect of the change movement among our brethren. Some of the articles will remind us of the Biblical reasons why we believe and worship as we do. They will address those items being challenged by the promoters of change. Other articles will address the errors or fallacies of the false teachers. Some will review their books and speeches.

… When you receive the article, read it and then forward it to ten or more members of the church on your mailing list with a note encouraging them to read it and forward it to Christians on their list. Such an effort has the potential to reach thousands of brethren … they will receive a brief lesson that will remind them of who we are, what we believe and why. They will be reminded of the dangers of the change movement … (Hopefully they can be elders, preachers, teachers, but any brother or sister in Christ). You are encouraged to send it to the congregations in your area who receive e-mail. Send it forth with a fervent prayer that God will bless your efforts and save his church from being swept away.

Thank you for caring enough to get involved in the most important thing in the world.

Yours for the church we love,

John Waddey, Editor
Christianity: Then and Now
E-Mail: johnwaddey@aol.com

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To the Christians in Rome Paul wrote, "All the churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16). Other names are also ascribed to the Lord's church. In I Corinthians it is called "the church of God" (1:2). Paul also called it "the church of the Lord" (Acts 20:28). Sometimes it was simply called the church.

This shows us that Christ did not appoint a single, exclusive name for his church. Since in heaven's plan there only one church, there was no need for a specific name to distinguish it from other religious bodies.

In a world of over 2,000 denominations, all claiming to be Christ's church, we identify ourselves as Churches of Christ. We do so because it is clearly a biblical name that God approves of. It tells the world to whom we belong. It gives the glory to our founder and savior. While not the only name that a body of Christians can scripturally use, it is highly appropriate for many reasons.

* Christ established the church (Matt. 16:18).
* He called it "my church" (Matt. 16:18).
* He gave himself for the church, dying for her (Eph. 5:25).
* In his death on Calvary, he purchased the church with his shed blood
(Acts 20:28).
* The church is his spiritual body, of which he is head (Eph. 1:22-23).
* He is the chief cornerstone of the church (Eph. 2:20).
* It is his house (Heb. 3:6).
* The church is his bride (II Cor. 11:2).
* He is the savior of the church (Eph. 5:23).
* He adds to his church all who are saved (Acts 2:47).
* The church is his family (Eph. 3:15).

Given all of these facts, it seems entirely reasonable that we call the church "the church of Christ." This holy name gives our Lord recognition for his role in giving us the church, preserving and protecting her. It acknowledges our dependence upon him. It expresses our love for him who saved us. It glorifies him as head of the church.

Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), nor should we ever be ashamed of, embarrassed by, or apologetic for this holy name we wear.

In Christ,

John Waddey

Additional studies can be seen at: www.christianity-then-and-now.com

John, I was just looking at your "An Outlined Introduction to the Bible, Volume 2. I often think that if we had good outlines we would not be so reckless as to grab a good sounding PROOF TEXT without having a clue as to its true meaning.

Now, if I had authority I like the word ASSEMBLY or EKKLESIA or SYNAGOGUE better than "church" which has some historical baggage. However, the historical evidence would be against me.

The church of Christ is specific whereas the word GOD can mean the one True God or whatever "god" we worship. In the case of the NEW STYLE WORSHIP it is clear that they are GIVING HEED to the musicians and performance preachers of falsehood and therefore are WORSHIPING the idolatry of talent. Therefore, it may be appropriate for Jesus Christ Who has already removed their candlestick to ALSO remove His name off the church sign.

I have been a collector of CHURCH NAMES and it is clear that everyone claimed it to be the church of Christ. What people see as the CATHOLIC CHURCH as the "original" was once an apostate church of Christ.

Only radical repudiators of the Word of Christ and inventors of the CORE GOSPEL would deliberately remove the name of CHRIST. Here are some links to which others are invited to submit additions.

http://www.piney.com/ChofChristName.html

Your point is well taken: those lusting to remove the ONLY Name have already cast Him out of their hearts.

Thanks.

Ken Sublett

Without an established code of law and authority, a kingdom cannot long exist. If its subjects refuse to submit to the established authority, a nation will soon collapse. A kingdom whose citizens are divided in their allegiance to conflicting sources of authority is doomed to failure. These points are conceded by all, yet there is utter confusion as to the established law and authority in Christianity. Folks are trying to serve God, when they have not learned or accepted the authority established by God.

CONTEMPORARY THEORIES ABOUT RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

* In Roman Catholicism it is argued that the church, with its pope and his cardinals, has the authority to interpret the Bible and to legislate law for the church. The history of Catholicism reveals the fallacy of this approach to authority. Churches are composed of fallible, often sinful, men. God made Christ to be the head of his Church (Eph. 1:22). That authority he has not surrendered to anyone.

* The larger Protestant churches look to their creedal statements as authoritative. Yet they find it necessary to revise them every few years. Yesterday’s sins are today’s privileges.

* Traditions from the past are revered as authoritative by some. Yet Jesus warned against traditions that make “void the word of God” (Matt. 15:8-9).

* The founding fathers of a denomination may be looked to as the voice of authority. But no man has the right to start his own church or to legislate for the people of God. It is just such men who are responsible for the mass confusion in the Christendom today.

* Most denominational bodies have conventions where church leaders decide what they will believe and do.

* Many moderns view human reason as the final authority in their religion.

* God reminded the Hebrews “... my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9). Reason subjected to the Revelation of God is man’s most valuable asset. But when exalted beyond its proper realm, reason is the cause of his alienation.

* Multitudes see conscience as their authority in religion. Solomon said, “There is a way that seemeth right to a man but the ends thereof is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25). The conscience must be trained in truth before it can safely lead us; and God’s Word is that truth (John 17:17). Feelings are not a safe guide.

WHERE DID GOD PLACE THE AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY?

All authority has been given unto the victorious Christ (Matt. 28:18). He is head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22). His word will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). Jesus delegated his authority to his apostles, saying, Go teach all nations, baptizing them and “teaching them to observe all things... I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). Their writings, our New Testament, is the only authority we possess. Those who seek to please God, speak and act only as Scripture authorizes. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (I Pet. 4:11). Thus the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching” (Acts 2:42). John warns, “Whosoever ... abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching the same hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9). The New Testament of Jesus is the absolute and only authority for Christ’s church and those who wish to please Him will look to it for direction in every matter of faith, worship and practice. Such is a distinguishing mark of a body of people who are truly and only, a church of Christ (Rom. 16:16). JHW

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Waves of error are sweeping over the brotherhood of churches of Christ, driven by men whom we have come to know as “agents of change.” Unfortunately, this destructive movement has already attained great momentum. It has captured some of our major universities and numerous churches, including some of our largest and most influential congregations. If we are going to save the church from being swept away in its entirety and effectively block the advance of this pernicious error, we must rally a band of faithful men and get to work immediately. Unfortunately most of our brethren are idly standing by, either totally unaware of the problem, or unsure about what to do. A multitude are indifferent to the problem, not willing to be involved in anything controversial. In the meanwhile, the proponents of change are aggressively and evangelistically advancing their cause.

We need a thousand faithful brethren who love the Lord and his church and are willing to get seriously involved in this endeavor. We must establish a network of men who will stand together in the defense of the faith once delivered (Jude 3), and then coordinate our efforts for maximum success. A thousand men, strategically placed across the nation, could effectively block the advances of the promoters of change and contain those pockets already under their influence.

* Each man must go to work immediately to inform and fortify himself and then do the same for the church with which he is associated. He would try to get them concerned and involved in the effort.

* Each man must resolve to be proactive, taking specific steps calculated to educate, inform and fortify the faith of his brethren and to block the spread of the error.

* Each man needs to select a geographic area for which he will personally be responsible by laboring to shield and protect those in that area from the incursions of the change agents.

* This is the strategy: Each man will volunteer to provide a steady flow of information to the leaders of every congregation in a given city, county, or even a state, depending on the number of congregations in that area. Ideally he will live in the immediate area, but if we have no volunteer who lives in an area, a brother from another area could be responsible for caring for it. For example, a brother could easily mail all the churches in Wyoming, or Delaware. In the states where we have many churches, one could be responsible for a city, or for a single county. Once a month he will mail the preachers and elders of the congregations in his chosen field a newsletter or bulletin of helpful information on the change movement. He could copy and mail Christianity Then and Now, or he could provide the funds and we will mail them from here. He could collect good materials from many sources, copy and forward them to his neighbors. He might wish to start his own, local newsletter. He could recommend useful papers or books on the topics under attack. He could invite those in his area for occasional get-togethers where they could discuss the problems at hand. He would lend aid and encouragement to every faithful brother and cause in his area and similarly refuse to lend such encouragement to the promoters of unscriptural changes. He would need to write letters and make calls of encouragement to those who are struggling to maintain the faith. He would actively look for opportunities to encourage those who are weak or faltering in the face of pressures from the opposition. He needs to be a source of information and help to those who are under attack or who need information to strengthen their faith and that of their congregations.

* He should do his work with a kind and brotherly spirit and avoid sarcasm, ridicule and a dictatorial attitude. He should also network with other faithful men across the country so he could share pertinent information with them and strengthen their hands.

* This network will be built, step by step as new helpers are found. We will use the Internet, mail and phone as needed.

* This network will be a voluntary relationship of concerned Christians, with no authority over anyone, with no interest or desire in making laws or binding our judgments on others. We will have no officers, no written creedal standard, save the New Testament of Christ. Our sole purposes will be to strengthen the faith of our brethren in New Testament Christianity and to oppose the inroads of false teachers promoting unscriptural changes for our people.

We are up against a serious challenge. The goal of the change movement is to remold and shape the Lord’s church into a denomination such as the “Independent ‘Nondenominational’ Baptist type of Churches” or the Christian Churches. At this point the momentum is in their favor. If the church is to survive for the next generation as the faithful body of New Testament Christians, we must act immediately. Would you be interested in being one of the thousand sentries that will be set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:16)? If so, please contact us at once at 12630 W. Foxfire Dr., Sun City West, AZ 85375, or

e-mail: johnwaddey@aol.com

* Acceptable worship must be Biblical, i.e., according to the instructions God has given us. Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” Acceptable worship must be Biblical, i.e., according to the instructions God has given (Matt. 7:21).

* It must be reverent, i.e., showing proper respect and deference to the great God we are approaching (Heb. 12:13).

* It must be with pure hearts and lives. “Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (Jas. 4:8).

* `Worship should be with joyful hearts. “My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” (Ps. 63:5).

* God expects our worship to proceed from our minds as well as from our emotions. We must worship with the spirit and the understanding (I Cor. 14:15).

* Pleasing worship will be whole-hearted. We must love the Lord our God will all our heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:37). Half-heart or indifferent worship is not acceptable to Him.

* True worship will be offered with enthusiasm. “Serve Jehovah with gladness” (Ps. 100:2). Like David, we should be glad when they say to us, “Let us go unto the house of Jehovah” (Ps. 122:1).

* We should worship the Lord with the best we have to offer. “But whatsoever hath a blemish that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you” (Lev. 22:20). Give God your best attention and effort in worship and your best gifts as offerings.

Remember that God is not so desperate for worship that He will accept any scraps or second rate efforts we toss Him. There is no greater blessing than to come before the Creator in adoring worship and be accepted by Him. There is no greater loss that to come before him in an unacceptable way and be rejected.

JHW

Bro. Paul Brownlow has written an attractive booklet by the above title, addressing twenty-five questions commonly raised by those who are inclined to allow instrumental music in Christian worship. Although not as strong in its response as some, it does address the contemporary arguments of those wanting to change the worship of the Lord's church. The booklet is well worth reading. It sells for $1.00 and may be ordered from Brownlow Pub. Co. 6309 Airport Freeway, Ft. Worth, TX 76117

To read past issues of CHRISTIANITY: THEN and NOW, please visit our website at: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com

JHW

Trusting Women (The Way of Women in Churches of Christ) is a recent publication issued by New Leaf Books of Orange, Calif. New Leaf is a perennial spring of materials promoting the agenda of the change movement. Billie Silvey is the editor of this book of essays by women affiliated with the Lord’s church. Harold Shank of the Highland Church of Christ in Memphis expresses the view of change agents concerning the message of this book. “These writers say things about Churches of Christ that nobody else is saying, things that nobody else can say.” He feels it “contains things that should have been said long ago.”

This reviewer and others of a conservative bent, would describe it as a “coming out statement” of women who have rejected God’s Word and the limitations it sets on their filling roles of congregational leadership and public teaching in His church. Preferring the teaching of feminism to that of the Holy Spirit, they express their frustration with preachers, elders and congregations that would not allow them to use their talents in the leadership and public worship of the church.

This book is noteworthy in that is a declaration of the first women preachers to surface among our churches in over a hundred years. True, women preachers emerged among the digressive churches that separated from us at the end of the 19th century, but they had no place among our brethren until recently.

* There is Katie Hays, one time ministeress of the Cahaba Valley Church of Christ in Birmingham, AL, now preaching for the West Islip Church of Christ in Long Island, NY.

* There is D’Esta Love, chaplain of Pepperdine University and member of the Malibu Church of Christ whose elders “made a statement to the church that made it possible for women to read from the Scriptures, to serve communion to the congregation, and to participate in periods of prayer in our worship” (p. 128). She feels that her “own religious tradition” (i.e., Churches of Christ) had let her down. She reminiscences about thinking she would never have the opportunity to use her gifts of “ministry” in the church. It seems to me she could easily have walked away from a church so tightly bound and limited by Scripture and gone to the Disciples of Christ, the Methodists, Presbyterians or Pentecostals and instantly gone on payroll (p. 129). She tell us how folks like her get around such embarrassing passages as I Cor. 14:43-34 and I Tim. 2:8-14. “We are finding tools for the analysis of scripture which allow us to view the role of women in the larger context of the biblical witness, rather than allow two heavily disputed passages to relegate women to a silent role” (p. 130). She believes that God “called (her) to Pepperdine University and has opened doors of opportunity for service that could not have been possible elsewhere” (p. 131). In this she is probably right, except of course she could have gone to Abilene Christian University and done as well.

* There is Amy Henegar, hospital chaplain, who preaches Sunday sermons at the hospital chapel.

* There is Karen Logan who found her inspiration from “a statement of faith by ‘Christians for Biblical Equality’” published in the denominational journal, Christianity Today.

* Joyce Hardin argues that women can do anything except be elders, preachers or Bible teachers of Christian men” (p. 57). For this concession we do give her credit. But she informs us that she does “not...understand why those restrictions are placed on women” (p. 57).

* Pat Boultinghouse tells us how she found her freedom from the old religious restrictions while working for Howard Publishing Co. of West Monroe, La. With the help and encouragement of Alton and John Howard, she and her husband launched Image magazine, precursor of Wineskins. She tells of working with influential leaders of the change movement such as Joe Beam, Rubel Shelly, Lynn Anderson, Jeff Walling, Mike Cope, Terry Rush and Marvin Phillips (p. 135). She asks, “Do we lift up our Lord and draw others to him when we rigidly hold to human traditions and a fifties culture” (p.141). I remind her and others of like-mind that the limitations on women in the leadership and worship of the church originated with the apostles in the first century, not the 1950s.

* Sherrylee Woodward acknowledges that, “During those tender devotions of the late sixties youth rallies, my crowd first began to wonder about applying the pattern for church worship, order and leadership when the church was not “in church.” (p. 191). It is fair to assume that much of the change agenda had it origin in the period of the sixties and in the environment of youth meetings. Young people who were poorly taught and led then are now the forty-something adults who are emerging as leaders of our churches. Nurtured on entertainment and emotionalism they know not what we believe nor why we worship as we do. Nor do they care much for what the Scriptures says.

* Lucille Todd and her friend, “felt the Holy Spirit moving (them)” (p. 209).

* Karen Logan tells us she was “blessed to be at a progressive church” where she enjoyed the worship of hand-raising and singing” (p. 228). She wonders, “Where is the verse that says a woman cannot lead a prayer?” (p. 22). We could ask, “Where is the verse that says we cannot sprinkle babies for baptism?” Of course this is the wrong question. The question is where is the verse that says women can lead in public worship? She believes that “God was preparing (her) to teach gender equality using this ministry of drama” (p. 232).

In reading this volume, one is impressed that virtually all of these liberated women who aspire to public leadership in the Lord’s church got their education and or inspiration from universities operated by members of the Churches of Christ. The most notable influence coming from Abilene Christian University and Pepperdine University. This is important information for those who care for the church and want to see this apostasy contained. Whenever there is an outbreak of food poisoning, public health workers look for the source. When blatant heresy breaks out in the church we too must look for the source. This book provides the answer. All who read Trusting Women will agree with Harold Shank who, in his commendation of this book, rightly said, “This is not an academic volume or a book on Bible study.” It is rather a declaration of women who no longer accept the Bible as their spiritual standard.

JHW (e-mail: johnwaddey@aol.com)

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com (Volume 2, Number 5)
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TRADITIONS

A tradition is a belief or practice handed down from generation to generation. All institutions and organizations have their traditional ways of doing things. Traditions can be beneficial, detrimental or inconsequential, depending on how they impact on an institution. Churches are no exception.

There are holy traditions passed down to us from Christ through his apostles. We are commanded to "stand fast, and hold the traditions which (ye) were taught, whether by word, or by epistles of ours" (II Thess. 2:15). Holy traditions were given by Christ and must be observed as his divine will (Heb. 5:9). Our faith, worship and practice must be based on these divine traditions. To be a holy tradition, worthy of our observance, it must be as old as the New Testament and found therein. Among those holy traditions are baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); baptism as the entrance into the church (I Cor. 12:13); communion with both bread and fruit of the vine (Matt. 26:26-29). For disciples to wear the name Christian is a holy tradition (I Pet 4:16).

There are traditions of men. Jesus told the leaders of the Jews, "ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition...in vain do they worship me teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matt. 15:6-9). Any religious teaching or practice originating this side of Christ and the apostles is a tradition of men, as is any teaching that is contrary to the New Testament.

--- Infant baptism: "by a tradition at least as old as the 3rd century...children born to Christian parents have been baptized in infancy (Oxford Dict. of Christ. Church, p. 689).

--- Sprinkling for baptism: "In the primitive church, baptism was by immersion...the council of Ravenna (1311) was the first to allow a choice between sprinkling and immersion" (Ency. of Rel. Knowledge, Vol. 1, p. 201).

--- Frequency of Communion: "from such passages as Acts 20:7, and various 2nd century writers it seems that the members of local churches all communed at the Sunday Eucharist. But in latter times...communion became very infrequent" (Ox. Dict. Of Christ. Ch. P. 319).

--- Instrumental music in worship: "the general introduction of instrumental music can certainly not be assigned to a date earlier than the 5th and 6th century" (M'Clintock & Strong's Ency. Vol 6, 759).

To prefer these human traditions over the teachings of God's word makes our worship vain (Matt. 15:6). To be pleasing to God, we must be unyielding in our commitment to honor and observe the sacred traditions of Christ and eschew all traditions of men.

JHW

MORE OBSERVATIONS ON TRADITIONS

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com (Volume 2, Number 5)
E-mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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All churches have traditions. Some traditions are divine in origin and must be honored (II Thess. 3:6). Other traditions originated with men and hinder folks from obeying God's will. Such must be rejected (Matt. 15:6). Still other traditions are harmless. They are established ways of doing things that give continuity and order to our services. With such traditions we know what to expect when we come together to worship.

--- We have a tradition of an one hour worship service. The Bible nowhere tells us how long to spend in our assemblies. In other countries I have visited, their tradition called for two or more hours in worship. Either is acceptable. Each congregation must decide such matters for itself.

--- Our tradition calls for half hour sermons. Again God does not prescribe a time frame for a sermon. Such traditions help us plan the use of our time in worship and afterward. Such a tradition is of human origin, but it is not forbidden. We could not however bind it on others.

--- Our tradition expects a preacher to wear a coat and tie when he stands up to preach. In Bible times they wore no ties or modern style coats. In third world countries, they have different dress styles and a preacher might be perfectly in order to wear casual clothes. We should dress appropriately for the occasion and so as not to cause anyone to take offense at our dress. We must not insist that brethren in all other lands must observe our tradition.

--- Our tradition is that we wear shoes to church. Most of us would frown on the adult who came barefoot. In many Asian churches, folks are expected to leave their shoes at the door. To wear them in worship would be considered disrespectful. Neither is bound by God. We are free to observe our tradition in the matter.

--- Our meeting houses are built according to our traditions. We expect them to be suitable for the community in which we live. We heat and air-condition them. We carpet the floors and cover the pews. Christians in other parts of the world have meeting places that conform to their traditions. Many have no heating or cooling. In some places it is not needed, in others they view such as wasteful use of God's money. Where roads are unpaved, carpeted floors are not suitable. Since God does not address the type of buildings we should have, each congregation is free to make its own choices in the matter. Our choices cannot be bound on others.

Traditions we have. May God help us discern which of them are good, bad and harmless. Let us always be ready to obey those from God; reject those that hinder our obedience to Him and be flexible in those that are harmless and useful our work and worship.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com (Volume 2, Number 7)
E-mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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ADRIFT: (A BOOK YOU MUST READ)

Much of what has been and is being said and written against the change movement afflicting our brotherhood deals with the visible symptoms of the problem. Bro. Phil Sanders, as a skilled physician, probes deeper and identifies the specific disease that has invaded the hearts and minds of many of our brethren. The disease is "Postmodernism" an affliction of the heart and mind affecting multitudes both in and out of the church. It is a new, heretical way of viewing truth, morality, religion, ethics, social, cultural and political issues. Readers of this book will see the many puzzling aspects of our nation's public and private behavior as well as the conduct of our change agents, fall into a coherent pattern. You will understand why those infected by the change virus participate in the Billy Graham Crusades; why they want fellowship with Christian Churches; why they see no harm in instrumental music, women in churches leadership, accepting the un-immersed into church membership, etc.

Every elder and preacher should order this book and read it immediately. It should be provided to deacons, youth workers and teachers. Only if we understand the nature of our ailment can we find a cure. The book may be ordered from the Gospel Advocate, P. O. Box 150, Nashville, TN 37202.

JHW

One person insists that one major component of postmodernism is that you must fall into schizophrenia before you can come out of the other end into sanity and a new revelation. The WIND NAVIGATING SCHEME is called prayerfull brinkmanship. It intends to drive the church into disequilibrium to destroy the OLD Bible and old church and MARKET a new winskin. Deliberate SOWING OF DISCORD is their FIRST RULE and derives from Machiavelli, Hitler and Hegel.

The old MODERNS are Christians meaning that the resource book for discipleship to Christ is the Bible. However, they say that we are living in the post-biblical and post-Christendom era.

One writer trying to EMERGE the new church of Christ wrote me the following analogy: The old TRUTH has been sucked into a BLACK HOLE. Right now it is travelling through a WORM HOLE. Eventually it will emerge thrugh a WHITE HOLE. The theory, however, is that this puts you BILLIONS OF YEARS in the past. Perhaps that is why the NEW STYLE WORSHIP has so much in common with witchcraft or ignorant tribalism.

Having a degree in Electronics and helped form a company and invented some good things it was long afterward I find that very old books on radio make clear things I never fully grasped. If some chemist took the "uncertainty principle" and denounced all of the old LAWS OF CHEMISTRY someone would be kind enough to lock him up: in religion we worship him.

Reading the sermons I truly believe that many of these people fell into deep schizophrenia and have not recovered. They have fatally stabbed their spirits on their sharp corner of commerce.

Our role should be to denounce them as babbling maniacs and slowly the VIRUS will go back into Sheol with their harps and harpists like the king of Babylon. You rememeber that when this PARADIGM worked out at Mount Sinai, God said that the outsiders would see them as a LAUGHINGSTOCK and so they are but they deserve no pity.

Ken

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com (Volume 2, Number 7)
E-mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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SOME OBSERVATIONS REGARDING CHRISTIANS WHO WORK IN THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADES


We have reached a new milestone in the history of the Lord's church here in America. Just this last year we have heard of several of our largest congregations and their preachers participating in the Billy Graham Crusades in their cities. There was a time, not many years ago, when involvement in these interdenominational programs would have left a preacher or church scorned by fellow-Christians as unsound and unfaithful. Today, in the wake of the "change movement," such is quite acceptable to the more liberal sort among us.

For Mr. Graham to have our people come and work in his campaigns is quite a victory, since for 50 years they had spurned his invitations. For him it poses no problem to accept our preachers and churches into his team. In his view one church is as good as another; Churches of Christ are just another denomination and most doctrine really doesn't matter so long as you believe in Christ as God's Son. No doubt he has always viewed us as narrow and misguided and now at least a few of our people have finally come around to his point of view.

For our preachers it is a different story. For if they really believe the Bible to be God's Word, they cannot believe that one is saved by faith alone. Such contradicts plain teaching of God's Word (Jas. 2:24). They cannot believe that one church is as good as another for that would mean that the creations of men are equal to the body of Christ. They cannot believe that a sinner can be saved by a simple prayer, when Scripture plainly teaches that remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit come with baptism (Acts 2:38). Thus if our brethren participate in the counseling of respondents to Dr. Graham's lessons, they have to tell them to do something they know is foreign to God's will in hope of salvation and encourage them to choose any kind of church they wish. Such is a betrayal of Christ and the church for which he died (Acts 20:28). To do this one of the following things has to be:

--- Either they believe what Dr. Graham teaches and thus they are only pretending to be loyal members of the Church of Christ

--- Or they don't really believe the doctrine of the Graham team but have to pretend to do so in order to be involved in his crusade.

In either case they are being dishonest. If they believe the doctrine and practice of Dr. Graham they should be honest and severe their ties with Churches of Christ and seek membership in a denomination that holds such views. If they do not share his views, they should be ashamed of themselves and repent of their involvement in the crusades.

Many of the ancient Hebrews desired to be part of God's holy people and still be acceptable to their heathen neighbors. To win their approval they would participate in the religious activities of the worshipers of Baal. Attempts to mingle two disparate religions is called "syncretism." When confronted with such a problem, Elijah, the mighty man of God, challenged his people saying, "How long go ye limping between the two sides? If Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21). To those brethren standing with one foot in the Church of Christ and one in the denominational circles of Mr. Graham, Elijah's question is pertinent, "How long go we limping between the two sides?"

JHW

It is too bad that you view the BG Crusades like you do. Billy Graham has lead MANY souls to Christ over the past 30-40 years. If the Church of Christ would do the same, then maybe we would have many more souls added to the Kingdom.

I have worked a Franklin Graham crusade and I can say that they are only interested in Christ and Christ alone. During a crusade it is not POSSIBLE to have a baptistry and baptise everyone who responds. However, they do recommend that everyone go to their local church and get baptized.

I have seen this first hand. If you would get off of your legalistic behind and experience a crusade then maybe you would have a better attitude.

It will be ashame when we all get to heaven and BG gets issued in first....maybe then you will understand.

JD

JD, this is CE,

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"Posted May 27, 2003 10:30 PM

It is too bad that you view the BG Crusades like you do. Billy Graham has lead MANY souls to Christ over the past 30-40 years. If the Church of Christ would do the same, then maybe we would have many more souls added to the Kingdom. "
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What Denomination are you with?

Just because someone comes and says that they are working for Christ does not make it so. Jesus said that there would be some on the last day that would be surprised not to make it. They had done great things. "Depart from me, I never knew you"

Just because BG says that he is converting does not make it so. You can't convert folk to God, if what you are teaching is not the truth.
John 4:24 God only seeks those that will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. BG's spirit may (big maybe) be right, but he teaches false doctrine. He teaches baptism is a command but it does not save you. You can be saved without it. But God says:

1 Pet. 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Acts 22: 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Just two of many verses that show the truth of God, and also show that BG is a false teacher.

The only thing that make BG big is that he has been around for some time. If that is the case the the Pope is OK too (since he is older).

Chris
euby76@yahoo.com

Billy Graham defends a theology begun in about 1525: to late to be Christian.

Zwingli INVENTED the heresy of faith only and was the founding principle behind Calvinistic "faith only" religions. It is not a Christian religion.

http://www.piney.com/WinBillyG.html

Ken

Dear J. D.:

Thanks you for taking time to share you thoughts about Billy Graham and his crusades.

You say that "Billy Graham has led many souls to Christ over the past 30-40 years" I am puzzled as to how you have reached this conclusion. Jesus said "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Billy Graham teaches that people who believe in Jesus will be saved whether or not they are baptized.

The Bible says, "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Billy Graham teaches men that they can and will be justified by faith only. It is a major doctrine of his Baptist faith.

Which of the two do you think knows most about what it takes to be saved, Jesus or Billy Graham? Which of the two will be your judge when you stand before the judgment seat of God? Jesus or Mr. Graham (II Cor. 5:10)?

You say that Franklin Graham is "interested in Christ and Christ alone." As noble as that sounds, you surely realize that there is much more to Christianity than saying "I am for Jesus." Virtually every cult and religion would answer yes if you asked them are you for Christ and Christ alone. I hazard the guess that even you are for the Bible, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the church, for worship, for heaven. Right? Just being for Jesus is not sufficient because expects us "to obey all things whatsoever (he) commanded" (Matt. 28:20). In the judgment it will not be sufficient to have called Jesus "Lord, Lord." Salvation will be for those who have done "the will of (his) father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).

You tell us that "during a crusade it is not possible to have a baptistry and baptize everyone who responds..." When Churches of Christ have citywide evangelistic efforts, we find it relatively easy to provide a baptistry and to immerse all who respond to Christ's invitation. On Pentecost the apostles baptized about 3,000 converts (Acts 2:41). Surely if Mr. Graham believed that baptism was essential to the salvation of sinners, he could and would do the same

Based on this one piece you accuse me of being "legalistic." So far as I know we have never met and the likelihood is that you have not read other of my writings. Just how do you know that I am legalistic? Since you obviously intend that as no compliment, is it the proper Christian spirit for you to so judge me? Jesus forbids us to do such judging (Matt. 7:1-2). The fact is I repudiate legalism and teach others to do the same. To teach people to be submissive and obedient to Christ in all things is not legalism, dear friend, it is fulfilling our Christian duty (Matt. 28:20).

I would certainly agree with you that Mr. Graham is a fine moral person. He is a very capable speaker. I do not judge his sincerity. He doubtless has helped many to turn from sin and think about Christ. But all of that does not mitigate the fact that he does not teach Christ's message of salvation as the apostles did. Does he?

If in judgment, God should decide to save Mr. Graham or any other person I will not protest. But knowing what I can clearly read from the New Testament of Christ, I dare not risk my hope of salvation on the doctrine he teaches, nor can I encourage others to do so.

I would like to encourage you to invest the same amount of time and energy you have put into the Graham crusades into seeking and saving the lost in connection with your local congregation of the Lord's church. You will be free to teach them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), and lead them in a way that cannot questioned or disputed.

Sincerely in Christ,


John Waddey

Mr Waddey,

Will those who accept Christ at a BG crusade and are later baptized be saved?

chuck

Will those who accept Christ at a BG crusade and are later baptized be saved? chuck
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I think that we know that part of the Hegelian or Andersonian change agenda demands that you have to DISSOCIATE or drive people to the BRINK or into schizophrenia and make you detest your belief before they can use mind control to make you believe like them. (Be careful with prayerful brinkmaship because if anyone is awake you will be fired.)

As soon as one scheme or producer of ANXIETY is over they are busily hatching another one. First, we should be aware that the changers have been converted to the Baptist or Zwinglian second Lord, second faith and second baptism. They are not and cannot be "honest brokers."

Second, they can sow discord, deliberately, among most churches of Christ who reject the Zwinglian scheme of "believer's baptism" which is quite identical to ancient pagan baptism--you wash off after WE have decided that you are clean. They are forced to accept the general Baptist judgmentalism that the church of Christ is a CULT.

Third, they know that they are producing anxiety among their own members but with the NEW WORLD ORDER, the pastor is dominant and the elders are HIS shepherds because the minister is better fitted as a trained, charismatic leader "called and trained by the sovereign grace of God." Therefore, they are not remotely part of the "family" decision part. Neither are the elders in many cases.

Fourth, there is a however. However, they use the Hegelian (and yes, Hitlerian) method of pretty fast GRADUALISM which is to infiltrate and divert. After Franklin (good ole boy) they will have done "praxis" and the jolly good time will soften the church participants "doing good." It is hard to be against alcohol if you hang out with bad companions.

However, in earlier campaigns because the church is defined as a CULT, the FG team keeps most people away from the church of Christ Team. Chuck, you are just the guy to find out how many "decisions" and how many were referred to the TEAM from the church of Christ. And, how many were baptized. If "decided" under charismatic musical influence they will probably not settle for the church.

You should also understand that FG USES the involvement of churches of Christ as an endorsement. You cannot participate with spiritual wrong without endorsing it or being tainted.

When you refuse to "justify" God you call Him evil or unrighteous for demanding baptism. Of John's Baptism which remitted sins Luke says:

----Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, JUSTIFIED God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

----Luke 7:30 But the PHARISEES and LAWYERS rejected the counsel of God (FOR) themselves, being not baptized of him.

Jesus didn't associate John's baptism or Christian baptism with "an appeal to a church for membership." This membership is AFTER remission of sins. However, this Zwinglian addition is that you must personally endure the Law until you yell for help. NOT "justifying" God is bragged about and "justifying" the rules of church membership is pushed. Then in "believer's baptism" Christ comes to you personally or YOU might become Christ to die for your sins. I know one guy who claims that he is the "lion of the tribe of Judah."

As a DECIDER, you are not an involved member when you make that CROWD AND MUSIC INDUCED decision for Christ. You cannot serve and you cannot take communion. In fact you are treated like children who are later confirmed. You get none of the fringe benefits until the church ADDS its conditions and allows you to be baptized. This would appear to be LEGALISTIC and WORKS ORIENTED.

Jesus said that baptism was the time and place where you decided that God was or was not a fraud. By accepting the counsel of God for your life you had to be baptized. Jesus said that FAITH + BAPTISM saved. However, it only took NON-BELIEF to damn you because non-belief repudiated the idea of God.

You should understand that history is replete with the fact that churches under the name "church of Christ" have existed in all historical periods and that they have always rejected music and followed the Biblical understanding of baptism. Perhaps with one or two personal exceptions the HISTORICAL CHURCH has always preached the necessity of baptism.

It was at the late date of 1525 when Zwingli invented FAITH ONLY and declared that he was right and all of the historical "doctors" were just wrong about believing that water baptism was required.

We are not dealing with two somewhat unified religious groups: the baptist view demands that Christ personally die again over and over just as the Catholics insist that Jesus must be crucified and that the "bread" literally becomes the flesh. They REJECT THE COUNSEL OF GOD and add their own more legalistic conditions.

The big psychological violence is the claim that to teach what the Bible teaches in contradiction with what man teaches is JUDGMENTALISM or LEGALISM. If latter- day- reformed Franklin is correct then WE the tiny minority are a destructive and rotten cult. There is almost a 100% guarantee based on all of God's Word: if you seek to be part of the masses or majority Jesus won't be there.

Don't let Hegel "snuff" you out. Rise up Oh men of God.

Ken

Mr. waddy, you are a sad, sad man. Just what IS the "Lord's Church". And don't give me that tired line about the Bible saying the "Church of Christ". That line has ben misused and abused for YEARS.

Try reading John 17. That chapter talks about ALL believers, not just those that go to a building on Sundays with "Church of Christ" on the door. IT TALKS ABOUT ALL BELIEVERS.

You are legalistic. There is no two ways about it. You use traditions of man to bind Pharaseeical RULES on other believers. There are as many passages in the bible that talk about "belief then saved" as there are about "baptized then saved".

The very fact that you are posting your diatribes on this website pidgeon-holes you as a conservative legalist. I have looked at your website an have seen your "letters" to people at ACU and Max and others.

Get a grip man. You are participating in religious pornography by posting on this website.

JD

JD:

It’s too bad and too sad you don’t want to be identified with the Lord’s church. This is the church of Jesus Christ identified in Romans 16:16 –- it has nothing to do with the name on the door of a building. It’s sad that going by the rules defined in the scriptures is NOT YOUR FORTE and that by doing so is legalism to you. While believing is a requisite to redemption, it doesn’t stop there. Baptism is also a condition that must be met before salvation can be obtained (Acts 2:38; 3:19).

It is also sad that the CHANGE and other contemporary movements have created a new set of traditions of men for JD and others to follow. This website will leave you and your contemporary pornography alone.

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Donnie

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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STRANGE THINGS OFFERED UNTO GOD

A favorite saying of some of our "change agents" is, "No act of worship is sin unless it is specifically forbidden in Scripture." With this in mind, I offer for their evaluation and possible use two items of worship being offered by denominational churches in our community.

The Desert Palms Presbyterian Church is offering "a praise dance class" at their church. Devotees are invited to "experience a relaxing 90 minutes of wonderful music, exercise and companionship with the object of praising the Lord through dance."

The Roman Catholic Franciscan Renewal Center in Phoenix is having a "St. Francis Blessing of the Animals Festival." "Several thousand people are expected to show up for the...festival."

If the promoters of change are correct in saying, "no act of worship is sin unless it is specifically forbidden in Scripture," then these two events of worship are perfectly legitimate and cannot be objected to. In fact, given the ecumenical spirit prevailing in our "changing" churches, they could easily participate in these "worship" occasions. It would be kind of like participating in the Billy Graham Crusades, which several of them have been doing. On the other hand, those who want to continue to enjoy fellowship of the Father and Son will do their best to avoid going beyond the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11). Since such things as "praise dancing" and "blessing of the animals" are not found in the doctrine of Christ they will abstain from those unauthorized practices along with the use of instrumental music, women preachers, and a multitude of other proposed changes offered by those who feel comfortable offering strange fire unto God (Lev. 10:1-2).

JHW

John, I have communicated with a lady in Zambia (a European) whose views about music as mind control fits mine.

They are fairly straight believers but they offer up an animal as sacrifice on the altar each Sabbath. One of the key PREACHING EXPERTS used at Lipscomb has organized a SABBATH communion with instrumentalists standing around the ALTAR. Isn't that where the Levites just made noise as they were slaughtering the TYPES of Jesus Christ?

It seems to me that using the Levitical musicians as authority and the preachers as priests and the Tithe to support them both it would not be any worse if they at least slit a chicken's throat on the lord's Table and drink the blood.

Musicologists note that modern forms of music including "churchy" styles is derived from Voodoo. An official of the TEXT BOOKS PUBLISHER used in the church is from one who speaks in tongues, heals people and looks forward to the Africans bringing their raising the dead to the USA. Just like voodoo.

I have noted that when I usually got the job of cutting the chicken's head off, it just kept dancing as if in a charismatic fit. But it was dead.

Ken

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ (Volume 2, Number 5)
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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IF YOU CHOOSE "CHANGE"

A number of our university professors and preachers are working hard to convince members of the churches of Christ to embrace certain changes in our faith, worship and practice. Of course, the changes suggested are the ones promoted by these very teachers. Already some of our Christian universities and a number of our congregation have made the decision to follow this route.

For those still undecided, I offer some thoughts for consideration before you choose the path of change.

--- To do so, you must be willing to abandon the concept of restoring the original faith and practice of the church, because the changes advocated were not a part of the original church. They are borrowed from our Baptist and Pentecostal neighbors.

--- To do so, you must cut your ties with those noble saints who went before you. A preacher, congregation or school that can accept instrumental music in worship, women as church leaders, an imperfect Bible and think of their church as a denomination, would not have been accepted by those gone before. Neither would the faith and preaching of those predecessors be compatible with the advocates of change. Like oil and water they would not mix.

--- To do so, you must acknowledge that the changes proposed will make you and your congregation denominational with all that adjective entails. As a denomination, your church will be no more valuable or acceptable to God than any of the 1200 other denominations men have created. In judgment He will say, "I never knew you: depart from me..." (Matt. 7:23).

--- To do so, you should be prepared for the destination to which those changes will take you. Sooner or later you will find yourself alienated from and out of fellowship with those people who for some 200 years have been worshiping and serving Christ as simple Christians, and are known as churches of Christ.

--- To do so, you must be prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive the things done in this life (II Cor. 5:10). To be there guilty of abandoning the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) and having participated in causing division in the body of Christ, is a fearful thought. Especially is this so when the only excuse you can muster is "people like it, or young people demanded it or it feels so wonderful, or where does the Bible forbid us to do these things?" "Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain" (Jude 11).

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 5 January 1, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH

The year 2003 may well be a fateful and eventful one. As our nation confronts militant Islam we can be sure that terrorism will continue. A war with Iraq is almost certain. Islamic radicals are determined to destroy our nation and every vestige of Christianity. We have no choice but to defend ourselves against them.

Within the kingdom of Christ a spiritual war is raging. On one side powerful forces of "change" are pressing forward, determined to impose their postmodern views on the body of Christ. There are hopeful signs of an awakening among her citizens. The army of our king has been aroused from its slumber and made aware of the danger at hand. Good men are coming forward to take their place in the ranks. The year 2003 could well be the one that will tip the scales either in favor of the forces of liberalism or those who are loyal to the King and his kingdom. The question is where will you be found standing in the day of conflict?

Many preachers are hesitant about dealing with controversial issues. For them I offer the following thoughts. If you choose to stand aloof from the battle and allow those on the radical right to carry the banner against the liberals, then: 1). Either the liberals will prevail and you will be a displaced person, or 2). The radicals will prevail and you will be displaced as unneeded and unwanted. Those who are neither of the above, but faithful men of God, with balance and good judgment, must lead the way. Truth is always found between the extremes of left and right. The church will flourish only when she follows the middle road of truth!

PREACHING CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED is the title of a sermon preached by Bro. Clyde Miller at the Granny White church in Nashville. He does a good job answering the change agents who would have us discount the church, baptism and doctrine. It would make a good lesson to present to your congregation. Our thanks to the elders of that church for sharing this lesson with us.

If you use the Internet, visit www.christianity-then-and-now.com. Our paper is now on-line. Bro. Roman Bond has done a masterful job in preparing the site. Each month's issue is featured and all back issues are archived. In addition there are some 60 additional articles; sections devoted to Questions and Answers; Book Reviews related to the change movement. A section contains historical and biographical sketches that show the link of our current change agents to the apostates of the past. New materials are regularly added. Please share this information with fellow-Christians. It might just prepare them should be promoters of change come calling at their congregation.

YOU CAN HELP IN THIS ENDEAVOR. The good we can do is limited by the funds available to us. If you judge the paper worthy of your support, consider one of the following ways you could help:

--- Provide the funds to send it to the elders and preachers of a given state. For $50 per month we can send it to the leaders of every congregation in some northern states.

--- Chose a city or county you wish us to send it to. It costs us .50 a month to mail two copies to a church. Multiply the number of churches by that amount and that is the monthly cost. We can get the addresses.

--- Provide the funds to send a monthly bundle of the papers to the students of one or more of our schools of preaching or colleges.

--- Underwrite the cost of sending it to all our Canadian churches. The number is about 250.

--- Supply the funds for including useful tracts that address the various issues before us. If you wish to participate in this work for the Master, send your checks to the Church of Christ, 12213 W. Bell Rd. Ste. 211, Surprise, AZ 85374. For more information e-mail us at johnwaddey@aol.com or call (623) 214-3715. Those who send a contribution of $15 or more I will send a complimentary copy of my book, Liberalism, Deadly Enemy of the Church.

A SEMINAR ON THE CHANGE MOVEMENT was recently conducted for us by Bro. H. A. Buster Dobbs, editor of the Firm Foundation magazine. He gave us two lectures sketching the development of the current departure and an hour was devoted to questions and answers. The lessons are available on three cassettes for $5.00. A church would be blest to have Bro. Dobbs come and speak on this subject.

Remember that Vol. I of Christianity: Then and Now is available in a bound volume. It sells for $6.50. Only a few copies are left.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 7
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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DON'T NEGLECT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

As we face tensions, and in some instances, turmoil because of the change agents at work among our churches, there is a temptation we must carefully avoid. We can become so concerned and consumed with opposing those who are attempting to impose unscriptural changes on the church that we neglect our most important duty. The Lord has left us here to take the message of salvation to those lost in sin (Matt. 28:19-20).

Satan is a shrewd enemy. He can harm the church on two fronts simultaneously. As he disrupts God's people by false teachers who create strife and division, he can succeed on a second front by diverting the church from her divine responsibility of evangelism. What profit would it be if we bravely resist and eventually defeat the agents of change, only to stand condemned for failing to do our first duty? Also, it would leave the lost hopelessly ensnared and doomed in their sins. No matter how many battles we must fight or how numerous the opposition may be, we must keep on preaching the good news. Sermons on salvation must ring out in every pulpit. Home Bible studies must continue undiminished. We must not reduce our outreach by radio, television and the printed page. We must remain eager to assist the faithful missionary. We must encourage our young men to commit themselves to preaching the Word.

A century ago our brethren were locked in mortal combat with that band of digressives who were determined to impose missionary societies and instrumental music upon them. David Lipscomb and his co-workers opposed the introduction of those innovations, but they challenged every congregation to plant another one and to do so every year. In every community brush arbors and tents were erected and the gospel was preached. The good news rang throughout the length and breadth of the land. Even though they had suffered massive losses to the digressives, they never quit evangelizing. Consequently the church grew and prospered in spite of all her problems. Her growth was even better than before. From a broken remnant of 159,658 members in 2,649 congregations in 1906, the numbers grew beyond a million by 1960. That growth occurred because they never lost a sight of their mission and the priority of evangelism. This is a lesson soldiers of Christ must never forget. Let us ever be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might (Eph. 6:10). Let us hate and resist every false way (Ps. 119:104). But let us "go everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4).

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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WOMEN IN THE PULPIT

A common topic in the news media these days is the issue of women serving as gospel ministers. If one is interested in pleasing God, he must look to the New Testament of Christ for the answer to this question. If he is interested in pleasing self, he will scorn that God-given document and seek approval in public opinion and social change.

Christ built the church (Matt. 16:18) and claims all authority in matters relating to it (Matt. 28:18). He authorized his apostles to record his will on all things regarding the faith and practice of his church. Paul wrote, “The things which I write unto you...are the commandment of the Lord” (I Cor. 14:37). Through his divinely appointed apostolic ambassador Christ announced the boundaries of woman’s work in his church.

“As in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law” (I Cor. 14:33-34).

“But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness” (I Tim. 2:12).

He who is serious about serving God will gladly accept these divine restrictions. He that “goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching...hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).

Should all the conferences and conventions, synods and bishops in the world cast their vote for women preachers it would not change God’s Word one whit. If all of society endorses women filling pulpits it would only be the wish of the creature against the will of the Creator.

Women share the image of God with men (Gen. 1:27). Together they are one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). But the God who created men, women and the church has assigned the public leadership role to males (I Tim. 3:1-2). One has no greater value than the other. It is a matter of divine decree.

To be a Christian is to confess Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9) and ourselves as his servants (Rom.1:1). A faithful servant will honor and obey his Lord’s will in reference to women and the ministry. To challenge the Master’s will is to be unfaithful.

The timeliness of this lesson is underscored by the fact that both Abilene Christian University and Pepperdine University featured Katie Hays on their lectureships this year. Sis. Hayes is minister of the West Islip Church of Christ in New York.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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KOINONIA: a book you should read

Some years ago Bro. Jimmy Jividen wrote an excellent book entitled Koinonia, A Contemporary Study of Church Fellowship. It was truly a book ahead of its time. He addresses the age old issues of the scope and limits of Christian fellowship; How to decide with whom we are in fellowship? What about those who claim to be members of the church but don’t adhere to New Testament teachings? In reading it, one would think he was contemplating the very issues of the change movement that bedevil us today. Every preacher and elder would be well-rewarded by reading this book. It is thoroughly biblical and is designed for class use. Preachers could easily find a dozen sermons to preach within its pages. It may be ordered from the Gospel Advocate, P. O. Box 150, Nashville, TN 37202.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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GOOD NEWS

In the last month several brethren have volunteered to underwrite the cost of mailing Christianity: Then and Now to the preachers and elders in their areas. You may wish to do the same. It costs us .50 per month to mail two copies, addressed to Minister/Elders of a church. If you would like to see the paper go to the church leaders of your city, county or state, call or write us. We especially would like to send it to the congregational leaders in the vicinity of our Christian Universities and Colleges. The push for change commonly is flowing from some of those schools. We can supply the addresses if you can provide the funds. Together we can make a difference.

You may e-mail us @ johnwaddey@aol.com or phone us at (623) 214-3715. See more lessons @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CHURCH?

The Lord’s Church in Duluth, GA has produced a multi-media response to the change movement by the above title. It consists of a professionally done video presentation, an audio cassette and a booklet containing the text of the presentation. The material was researched and written by Bro. Rod Rutherford and presented by Bro. Jim Dearman. This material is offered to churches without cost. You may contact them at Church of Christ, 3239 Hwy 120, Duluth, GA 30096.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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“WHY WE LEFT”

In a book by the above title, Bro. Alvin Jennings chronicles the inroads of the Change Movement in the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Ft. Worth and his written appeals to the church leaders to remain faithful to God’s Word. It contains his 25 Theses of protest which he fastened to the church’s door.

Order from Star Bible Pub. Box 821220, Ft. Worth, TX 76182

JHW

“SOME OBSERVATIONS REGARDING CHRISTIANS WHO WORK IN THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADES” (by John H. Waddey) posted on April 30 2003, 3:08 PM

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com (Volume 2, Number 7)
E-mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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JD posted an article titled “Billy G Crusades” on May 27 2003, 10:30 PM -- in reaction to John Waddey’s original article above: “SOME OBSERVATIONS REGARDING CHRISTIANS WHO WORK IN THE BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADES." Please read John Waddey’s response (dated: 05/28/2003) to JD’s accusation and judgment of brother John being “legalistic.”

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Donnie Cruz

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Mr Waddey,

Will those who accept Christ at a BG crusade and are later baptized be saved?

chuck
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Dear Chuck:

You ask if those who accept Christ at a Graham Crusade and then are baptized will be saved?

1. If by "accept Christ" at a crusade you mean their hearts are pricked and they make up their minds to follow Christ; and in their following instruction they learn the necessity of being immersed in the name of Jesus for remission of their sins (Acts 2:38) and do so; yes, they will be saved.

2. If by "accept Christ" at a crusade you mean that they confess that they believe in Jesus and conclude that they are therefore saved on the basis of faith alone, and then are baptized to join a particular church or to declare to the world that they have been saved by their faith; the answer would be no. God makes it abundantly clear that no man is saved by faith alone (Jas. 2:24). He also makes it clear that sins are washed away when we are baptized in the name of Jesus, i.e., by his authority and as he instructed (Acts 22:16). Nowhere does Scripture indicate that we are baptized to join a denomination or to tell others that we are already saved.

This last scenario, which is common in Protestantism and is the teaching regarding salvation and baptism held by and promoted by Mr. Graham, is without biblical foundation. Just as the twelve disciples of Ephesus who had been baptized with improper teaching and understanding were told to be baptized yet again...on the basis of correct knowledge and faith (Acts 19:1-7), so should those described herein be properly baptized according to the teaching of Christ.

With best wishes in Christ,

John Waddey
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Dear John...what a way to start a letter! I imagine you've heard that before. Please note this reference.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces to get to the city of Ephesus. He met some disciples in Ephesus and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered him, "No, we've never even heard of the Holy Spirit." Paul asked them, "What kind of baptism did you have?" They answered, "John's baptism." Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. John told people to believe in Jesus, who was coming later." After they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came to them, and they began to talk in other languages and to speak what God had revealed. About twelve men were in the group.
(Act 19:1-7)

Is it not crystal clear to you that they didn't even know Jesus? The disciples they met were student's of John's followers. The KJV calls them "certain disciples" or a peculiar type. The Greek is "tis"

tis
An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object: - a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, -thing, -what), (+ that no-) thing, what (-soever), X wherewith, whom [-soever], whose ([-soever]).

The purpose I see here is to receive forgiveness of sin plus the Holy Spirit. Paul's original question was referring to Spirit. He never mentioned baptism. He asked about when they became believers.

By the way, did you receive tongues when you were baptized and received the Spirit?

chuck

I am butting in because the Ephesian 12 like the Thief on the cross is used as a diversion. However, nothing changes the FINAL COMMISSION of Lord Jesus Christ. Contrary to the TWO FAITHS of the Baptists, Christ sent the Apostles also to the Gentiles before He died. Everything must be tested against the Word of Jesus as practiced in the Bible and almost universally received until the rise of the Baptists.

tis (s5100) can also mean some or several "disciples." Acts 19:7 tells us that the "several" were "twelve." Is there any significance to there being 12 MEN? Perhaps, because the second level of evangelists also received spiritual gifts ONLY through the hands of an apostle. In history we know that these men then branched out and went into all the world not specifically recorded in the Bible. They would correspond to Philip and Stephan where the latter was called "an evangelist" because he was "full of the Spirit."

----"He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Acts 19:2

The word is SINCE ye believed in the NIV (note) and the KJV. "WHEN you believed" does not matter much because Paul is making "believed" include being "baptized into" whomever one believes because FAITH ONLY does not promise the Holy Spirit. "When ye believed" includes the FAITH in the "operation of the faith of God" in baptism as well as believing that Christ is the son of God. He therefore DEMANDS to know to whom there were BAPTIZED as part of "since ye believed."

Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is SINCE you believed but also SINCE you were baptized because Paul KNOWS that there is something lacking in their BAPTISM.

----"Then Peter said unto them [since you believe], Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, AND [since you have your "house swept clean"] ye SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Paul continued: If you did not receive the gift SINCE you believed there must be a problem with WHOSE baptism you accepted.

----And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto Johns baptism. Acts 19:3

Paul presupposes that "since ye believed" includes being baptized. When they were baptized into John's baptism they would have heard that they SHOULD BELIEVE on Christ Jesus when the SPIRIT Christ returned on Pentecost.

----"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:4 (On is the Greek EIS. It does not mean "believe BECAUSE OF Jesus Christ).

----"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:5

--------BUT, when told to BELIEVE ON Christ Jesus they were BAPTIZED. After their baptism with God's Spirit they were ADDED to the rank of BELIEVERS.

None of those on the day of Pentecost spoke in tongues but they all received the gift of the Spirit or as Walter Scott says A holy spirit.

Tongues (languages) had already CERTIFIED the Apostles as from God. Now, those AFAR OFF geographically could confirm that Paul was also an ordained spokesman for Christ. If they were to be evangelists Paul could have imparted the gift of speaking tongues which was the "70 minor dialects" in additon to the "5 languages." No one ever spoke gibberish and no person ever spoke "other dialects" outside of the arm's reach of an apostle and no woman ever spoke in tongues anywhere in an approved manner. In fact, Paul seems to outlaw it.

Baptism promises the Gift of A holy spirit but did not bestow the supernatural Spiritual power required for second- level evangelists which must be a DIRECT COMMISSION from the Christ ordained Apostles:

----"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts 19:6

They were NOT prophets and prophesying usually meant to speak on behalf of God. With the gift of tongues (minor languages) these men most likely obeyed the Great Commission and went out as Evangelists. Remember, Paul spoke these languages but he would not do so in CHURCH where everyone knew the Koine or other local dialect.

There is a difference between NOT BEING DAMNED (a negative) because of unbelief and being REGENERATED (a positive) by God at baptism when we REQUEST a new spirit or a new conscience. The Ephesian 12 had their sins remitted at John's baptism but they did not have a new Spirit living in them. Paul says that God deliveres us from the power of darkness and TRANSLATES us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In addition, Paul bestowed the gifts required only of an evangelist.
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Tertullian about the year 200 speaks for all we are aware of: that no one (almost) believes that we receive a new spirit just by being IN the water. However, in the water we are cleansed by Christ so that His Spirit can live in us by faith.

----"Not that in the waters we obtain the Holy Spirit; but in the water, under (the witness of) the angel, we are cleansed, and prepared for the Holy Spirit. In this case also a type has preceded; for thus was John beforehand the Lord's forerunner, "preparing His ways." Thus, too, does the angel, the witness of baptism, "make the paths straight"

----"for the Holy Spirit, who is about to come upon us, by the washing away of sins,

----"which faith, sealed in (the name of) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, obtains.

Figuratively the "constitution had been ratified" and it did not need to be ratified again. Therefore, most historical writers did not look for supernatural signs to validate that which had been proven on the ANVIL of time. Faith- Only rejects "faith" because it looks for supernatural PROOOF that one is saved WITHOUT obedience in baptism. That is leagalism

Tertullian insists that FAITH must include believing that God could use water in our salvation even as the Spirit of God hovered over the ancient waters as the Word creating the "earth standing out of the water and in the water." Belief only does not wash away sins or give us a new, holy spirit able to commune with God Who is Holy (Wholly) Spirit. Water only does not work either: Peter said that baptism IS the act of faith which REQUESTS a holy spirit from God so that He can live in us by Faith.

John's baptism prepared the way, Pentecost had the Spirit poured out (once) or made available and the Ephesian 12 confirms the statement of John that only Jesus can "wash" our spirit while we are dipped in water which is the creative medium used by a Holy God.

The Ephesian pagan cults would have had a form of Baptism as a RITUAL only after they had tested and approved you. God sent a supernatural sign to the major areas which the pagan baptism could not produce.

Ken

Chuck:

Your original question to John Waddey was: “Will those who accept Christ at a BG crusade and are later baptized be saved?” John provided a very straightforward answer to the simple but important question of yours (and of others as well): a question that basically deals with the sequence of either –-

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(a) Redemption being received BEFORE baptism
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(b) Redemption being received AFTER baptism.
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(1) Receiving the forgiveness of sins, the “blotting out of sins” AND (2) receiving the GIFT of the Holy Ghost, which is a clear conscience or “times of refreshing coming from the presence of the Lord” –- are clearly the BENEFITS from (a) believing [faith] and (b) baptism [by immersion]. Please read Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19.

Let’s not recycle the VERY SPECIAL function of the Holy Ghost that was manifested on Pentecost through the apostles: (1) to the Jews first and (2) to the Gentiles later. In all fairness, all the supernatural and extraordinary events (miracles, speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, etc.) had to occur among the Gentiles ALSO! These miraculous events weren’t and are not essential to salvation. In fact, they were to cease. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; WHETHER THERE BE TONGUES, THEY SHALL CEASE; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (I Cor. 13:8)

I don’t believe John will waste his time responding to your other smart-alecky question on receiving tongues and the Spirit –- you already know the answer. He’d probably respond with: “As the prophet said, ‘Ephraim is joined to his idols, leave him alone.’"

So, let him return your own question to you: “By the way, did you receive tongues when you were baptized and received the Spirit?” And let’s take it from there.

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Donnie

Paul did mention immersion in verse 3, "Into what then were you immersed?" This was a logic question since these men had never heard of the Holy Spirit. He then explained about Christ and they were re-immersed because John's immersion of repentance was just as null and void as the Law of Moses. It did not put one into Christ. They had the courage to do what was required instead of whining about it!

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JEFF'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH JOHN WADDEY:
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Your comments regarding Mr. Graham are frankly... LAME. Have you EVER been to a Billy Graham or Franklin Graham crusade? I think NOT! You have NO idea what goes on there except what you FOCUS on which is the "sinner's prayer". I have been to one and have actually worked one in a prominent position. And, yes I am a member of a Church of Christ.

You might want to look at your "whitewashed tomb" before criticizing others. Your "dead bones" are not crying out to the Lord, so I guess the rocks will cry out for you Mr. Waddey.

Your "brand" of the CofC is DYING OFF. In about 10-15 years there will be NONE left. It is sad that you fail to see the tens of thousands that are accepting Christ thanks to the efforts of the Grahams. The angels REJOICE every time a Crusade is held.

What are you thinking??? Oh, I guess that is it. You are thinking with your head, holding on to those traditions of yours and your heart has vacated your chest.... Jeff
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RESPONSE FROM JOHN WADDEY RE: BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADES
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Dear Jeff:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me about the Graham Crusades. No, I have never attended a BG Crusade. I do have several of his books and have read many pieces by him. I have seen him in action by means of television. I have never been in a Muslim Mosque, a Jewish synagogue, nor a Hindu temple service, yet by reading and researching I have a fair understanding of what they teach and do and feel perfectly confident in urging people to choose Christ and his church over those systems.

I marvel at how you who have been caught up the change movement can be so judgmental and caustic of those of us who choose to stay with the old time gospel of the Scripture. Yet one of the chief objections your principal spokesmen hurl at us is that we are too harsh and judgmental on those who are teaching error. Does that mean that it is all right to call a brother a "whitewashed tomb" if you are into change, but it is wrong if you are not?

If you read my earlier response you will note that I did concede that Mr. Graham does point many to Christ; hundreds of thousands of them; but he does not and he will not tell them the whole counsel of God regarding salvation. Even you must agree with that, unless you now believe that a sinner can be saved by faith alone. If you think that, you need to read James chapter two and Hebrews eleven and learn what God means by the word faith. By the way, Pope John Paul, Oral Roberts, Benny Henn, Pat Robertson and a thousand other teachers of a thousand different kinds of churches also point men to Christ. But pointing men in the direction of the Savior is not the same as leading into a safe relationship with him. That comes when in faith one is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

Yes, some of our congregations will die off. But that is not really anything new. If you look carefully you will see that every congregation mentioned in the New Testament died off. Some congregations die because the community moves away from them. Some because of internal problems. Some because of migration or persecution. Some from lack of zeal and evangelism. But some churches die because they take their eyes off of Jesus and the instructions he left to guide us. In Nashville what was once the Belmont Church of Christ is now the Belmont Church, a Pentecostal body. They abandoned the teaching of Christ for that of Pentecostalism. Look around and note the Disciples of Christ/Christian Churches in your community. They were once a part of our brotherhood. But they chose a different path and followed it. Chances are that even you would find a Disciples of Christ church beyond the pale. Some grow weary of the restrictions of Bible authority and yearn for something new and exciting. We call them seekers of change. They cast off the biblical restraints and grope in the darkness for a spiritual thrill and in many cases they stumble and fall. Such has been the sad fate of the Madison congregation. Such is the fate of a congregation here in our state. They were once a large flourishing congregation. Now their building has a For Sale sign on it.

If Satan and the agents of change have their way, it is true that Churches of Christ as they have existed here in America for the last 200 years will cease to exist. But Christ is greater than Satan or the change agents (I John 4:4). You and they will likely leave our brotherhood in the next 10-20 years. The number that will go with you is yet to be decided. But if all but a handful depart, that is not proof that God has blessed your change movement. From the beginning of time it has always been "the remnant that shall be saved" (Rom. 9:27).

You are my brother in Christ. I care for you soul. I urge you to turn back to the "things that are written" (I Cor. 4:6) for if you transgress and go beyond the doctrine of Christ you will have the blessing of neither the Father nor the Son (II John 9). Remember that Christ is the savior of the church which is his body (Eph. 1:21-22), if you walk away from his body, you will miss the most important thing of all.

May God be with you,


John Waddey
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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 10, June, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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LIFT UP CONTINUAL PRAYERS FOR THE LORD'S CHURCH

The day Christ washed away our sins, he added us to his church (Acts 2:47). His church is as precious to him as your beloved mate is to you (Eph. 5:25). His church is the kingdom of God on this earth (Matt. 16:!8-19). Christ and his church are the hope of the world. The church with its many members constitutes the hands of God ministering to the needs of suffering humanity. The purest and best of humanity, before us and in our own generation, have been members of Christ's church. Ambassadors of the church brought the gospel to each of us and led us to salvation in Christ. The church taught us, trained us, nurtured us in the faith of Christ and is preparing us for eternal life with the Father.

Today the Church of Christ is a kingdom under siege by foes within and without. She desperately needs our prayers for her well-being and prosperity; for her protection and survival. A band of people have arisen within the church who are determined to impose changes on her that will corrupt her faith and practice and transform her from the precious bride of Christ into a worthless human denomination. Therefore it is essential that every faithful child of God daily lift up prayers to the Father on behalf of the church:

--- That God will protect her from those who would do her harm (Is. 31:5).

--- That He will raise up an army of faithful soldiers to lead his church in this day of trial (II Tim. 2:2-4).

--- That he will overthrow the schemes and plans of those who would subvert the faith of His people (Ps. 83:17).

--- That He will open the eyes of elders, preachers and brethren (Eph. 1:18), so they can discern those who are false teachers and refuse them a hearing (I John 4:1).

--- That He will heal the wounds "agents of change" have already inflicted upon His beloved church (Hos. 6:1).

--- That he will stir the hearts of elders and other Christians to use their resources to help provide the weapons needed to win this battle for the heart and soul of the church (I Tim. 6:17-18).

--- That He will restore his church to peace, harmony and prosperity (Eph. 4:3-4).

Our old hymn "I Love Thy Kingdom Lord," captures the thought of this exhortation, "For her our tears shall fall, for her our prayers ascend to her my care and toils be given till toils and cares shall end." Let a hundred thousand prayers ascend each day as sweet incense and we shall see better and happier days for the church we love.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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Tim Woodroof of Nashville has recently published a book entitled, A Church that Flies (A New Call to Restoration in the Churches of Christ). His theme is “the advocacy for change and for the discovery of new expressions of faith that represents the true restoration spirit” (p. 139). He seeks to help us “discover unconventional forms for refreshed religious expression” (p. 138). His confession about his relationship with Churches of Christ is found on page 141: “To tell the truth, my heart knew something was wrong years before my head caught on. I have never been comfortable with the sectarian rhetoric of the ‘one true church.’ Our exclusivism and isolationism seemed to me to stem from equal parts arrogance and insecurity.” The reader of this volume will see a clear portrait of what the liberal change agents have in mind for the churches of our brotherhood. He will see just how far down the road the leading lights among them have already traveled. Bro. Woodroof is a well-educated man and a gifted writer. His advocacy of change is as eloquent as that of any man of their band. When the last shot has been fired and the smoke is cleared from the field of battle his name will be written large along side of Rubel Shelly, Lynn Anderson and Max Lucado. The question is, will it be on the list of those who were defeated or those who won the battle for the soul of the Churches of Christ?

His thesis is set forth on p. 9. “Central to this endeavor...is a willingness to...suggest it is possible to build a contemporary church that pleases God even if it does not look exactly like the church of the first or the nineteenth-century.” He admits, “Many of us are growing frustrated with a modern church that may look like the ancient church in the particulars but fails to function with anything like its power and life-changing dynamic. Some are beginning to ask whether it might be possible to be the Church of Christ today without the focus on forms that have become our hallmark?”

His intent is expressed on p. 18-19. “Some of us, reviewing the state of Churches of Christ at the dawn of the twenty-first century, are recognizing that drastic surgery is in order or else the patient may well expire on the table. For them the only kind of restoration worth pursuing has little to do with resuscitating ancient methods and much to do with recapturing an ancient vision of who God’s people are and what business they are to be about. They no longer believe that the restoration of proper forms will ensure proper functioning in the church.”

His liberal theology is reflected in the following lines. “It says, for example, that the church need not have either explicit mandate or permission for everything it wishes to do” (p. 25). Early on he declares “...I call into question our reliance on ‘pattern theology’...” (p. 29). “(Antioch) Christianity clearly establishes there never was the ‘pattern’ we have so vehemently asserted” (p. 143). “These Jewish Christians (Judaizers) were the first ‘patternists’ of the Christian faith. They had discovered—in those early, innocent years of the church in Jerusalem—a pattern for worshiping God...” (p. 162).

The goal of the change agents in general and Bro. Woodroof in particular is as follows: “That is a goal that has, I believe, the power to capture the children of the Restoration movement” (p. 21). These men are not content to transform their particular congregations into charismatic, denominational churches. Conquest and dominance of the entire brotherhood as their goal.

His contempt for the faith and worship of the church he grew up in and that his family has been part of is clearly expressed: “Clinging to old worship forms that cease calling us to a transforming experience of God in not ‘faithfulness.’ Indeed, it represents a greater threat to the church than the worship ‘innovations’ we have been taught to fear” (p. 71-72). The stand of our brethren on the following topics he labels as defense of mole-hills: Clerical titles, worship styles, organizational structures, our method of interpreting Scripture, the role of women, choirs, instrumental music, etc. (p. 120).

“Many of the practices and habits bequeathed to us by the church of our fathers have lost all connection to contemporary minds and hearts. Once-vivid forms, with the passing of time, have become dead ritual and mindless liturgy and instinctive tradition” (p. 135). “The church must be constantly renovating its forms or innovating new forms that allow it to be God’s living presence in this world” (p. 134).

He makes repeated, exaggerated or false criticisms of those preachers and churches who do not embrace his theology of change (p. 122). To him, our way of preaching and practicing the faith of Jesus is “beyond embarrassing. It is mortifying...” As a well-trained false teacher is wont to do, he tries to disarm in advance anyone who would dare criticize his plan by shaming them into quietness. “Who can pay attention to the larger issues when policing the use of instruments requires such vigilance and concentration?” (p. 123).

A major objective of change agents is to batter down our convictions regarding the use of instrumental music in worship. To do so they resort not to scripture arguments (those they don’t have), but to special pleading. Their program is “a commitment to holiness and mercy and service. It has nothing to do with the musical forms we use in worship...” (p. 123-124).

Change agents like Bro. Woodroof are prone to unfounded assumptions. Note the following:

-- The Jerusalem church “was a congregation shaped as much by Moses and the customs of Israel as by Christ” (p.162).
-- “Jewish—Christian worship was virtually indistinguishable from the worship of orthodox Judaism” (p. 163).
-- “When at last, God forced the hand of the Jerusalem church and scattered those first Christians abroad” (p. 163.
-- The Holy Spirit had to “win from Peter the grudging concession” (emph. mine, jw) that Gentiles could be accepted into the church (p. 165).
-- Speaking of Antioch, he says, “In this church we have the first specific record of kosher food laws being ignored...by the Jewish Christians” (p. 165).
-- “Though we are told little about the manner in which the Antioch church worshipped, it is safe to assume that the forms used to express worship were drawn from their native culture rather than a Jewish one” (p. 165).
-- James and the elders of Jerusalem (agreed) “Gentiles would still be permitted to practice a different ‘brand’ of Christianity (emp. mine, jw) than Jerusalem Jews” (p. 171).
-- He assumes that the Ebionites (heretics of the late first and second centuries) “differed little from many of the first Jewish believers who populated the church in Jerusalem” (p. 172).
-- He assumes that David, on his own initiative, introduced instrumental music into the temple worship. He evidently is unfamiliar with II Chron. 29:25.

Concerning those instruments, it says, “the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.” But then, change agents are not known for their dependence on Scripture for their assertions.

His interpretation of the sins of Nadab and Abihu in offering the strange fire is remarkable. “The sin of Nadab and Abihu may have nothing to do with ‘innovations’ or some departure from specifically commanded procedures. Rather, the text (Lev. 10) suggests that the sin involved here was treating God and their important duties casually, carelessly” (p. 208). This sounds much like the interpretation gays give for the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. Rather than homosexuality, they say it was their lack of hospitality that God punished. When a man is intoxicated with the wine of liberalism, everything he views is distorted.

As I pored over the pages of Bro. Woodroof’s book I was impressed with the thought, “Herein is clearly demonstrated the mind of a liberal change-agent. Bold and brazen, he is unashamedly determined to destroy the church as we have known her and from the rubble build a new one in his own image.” Read it to know what they have in mind. As you do so, “Keep thy heart with all diligence” (Prov. 4:23), because the message of the book is deadly poison.

JHW

John, don't fret. You remember the old saying: "Better to be thought a FOOL than to open your mouth and REMOVE ALL DOUBT." These BOOK PUSHERS fulfil the COMMERCE part of the Babylon Whore religion as Lucifer fulfilled the TRAFFICKER role in the beginning. The BATTLE of Armeggedon is polemic: "Little hills on the plane trying to ASCEND UP to be big mountains." Just reading the terminal evil and ignorance means that they have finally arrived: they are now MOLE HILLS. The DOUBLE EDGED sword which they repudiate will get them on the BACKLASH swing.

YOUR APPROACH WILL WORK: JUST QUOTE THE BIBLE AND DOUBLE- SPEAK AND DOUBLE- DEALING WILL PROVE THAT "THE KINGS HAVE NO CLOTHES."

Carrol D. Osburn, The Peaceable Kingdom says On pages 14-15: "With so many questions flying around and so much uncertainty being expressed in various quarters, what an opportunity for the various

-------FACULTIES of our Christian (?) colleges and universities
-------to help SHAPE the future!

"These are the best of times to be involved in Christian education! If we are to have a truly significant impact upon the national and international scene, faculties of religion must play

-----leading PROPHETIC roles in CHANNELING and FACILITATING whatever changes loom ahead.

WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE CODE WORDS OF THE CHANGE GROUP: SMALL BUT ORGANIZED WITH AN AGENDA and I believe, with the help of the wrong spirit.

Channeling is "a process whereby an individual (the "channeler") claims to have been INVADED by a SPIRIT entity which speaks through the CHANNELER. The channeling craze began in earnest in 1972." That is EXACTLY what these hoplessly IGNORANT or EVIL men and women claim!

The witch of Endor used an EMPTY WINESKIN having the same meaning as the NEBEL or harp (meaning vile) or the "Clanging brass" hi-tek instrument of the Greek Warrior.

Quoting John Naisbitt:

"In turbulent times, in times of great change, people head for the two extremes: fundamentalism and PERSONAL, spiritual experience...With no membership lists or even a coherent philosophy or dogma, it is difficult to define or measure the unorganized New Age movement. But in every major U.S. and European city, thousands who seek insight and PERSONAL GROWTH cluster around a metaphysical bookstore, a spiritual teacher, or an EDUCATION CENTER." 1. J. Naisbitt & P. Aburdene, Megatrends 2000", William Morrow & Company, New York, NY (1990)

A Christian PROPHET absolutely MUST "teach that which has been taught" and be able to say: "THUS SAITH THE LORD." The attack agents sent out by ACU actually REPUDIATE saying what Jesus said. Jesus defined His role as SON as speaking EXACTLY what He heard from the FATHER who dwelled within. If you SPEAK ON YOUR OWN then Jesus defined you as a DEVIL. The musical prophesiers cried "Lord, Lord" and claimed magical powers: Jesus said (and will say): I DON'T KNOW YOU.

Facilitating means MIND MANIPULATION which according to Lynn Anderson must be done to drive the people to the edge without getting fired. It is called prayerful Brinkmanship.

Carrol D. Osburn: "An outdated curriculum from a SECTARIAN past that placed emphasis upon transmitting doctrinaire positions will not suffice if we would engage convincingly the larger arenas of current religious thought. …

----Our graduate programs must train students how to think, to investigate the biblical text afresh, to FEEL the pulse of the world around them, to SENSE where things OUGHT to go, and provide the kind of EXPERIENCE that will enable servants to go out into churches and communities and provide DIRECTION.

And YOU, oh fool, thought that they TAUGHT THE BIBLE.

On pages 90-91 you will see one of the new PARADIGMS to replace PATTERNS: all faculty members must at ever opportunity use the HEGELIAN DIALECTIC (machiavilli, Hitler, Gramsci) to ASSOCIATE not using TWO CUPS to not using MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS as the works of human hands. Of course this is evil and anti- Christian but postmodernism does not define it as lying.

RIDICULE is the PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE USED BY THESE PSYCHOLOY TRAINED persons who, as postmoderns, feel that DRIVING YOU INTO SCHIZOPHRENIA is a MANDATORY goal befor they can slip the daggar (Judas Sicarri was a daggar man).

"There should be room in the Christian fellowship for those who differ on whether more than one cup in communion is acceptable, whether the communion bread is to be pinched or snapped, whether one can eat in the church building, whether funds can be used from the church treasury to support orphan homes,
---whether the Lord's Supper must be taken every Sunday, or whether instrumental music is used in worship.

--There SHOULD be ROOM in the Christian fellowship for those who believe that Christ is the son of God, but who differ on eschatological theories such as premillennialism, ecclesiological matters such as congregational organization, or soteriological matters such as whether baptism is 'for' or 'because of' the remission of sins.

This is the SHELLYITE "CORE GOSPEL."

HOW COULD YOU TRUST ANYONE WHO USES SUCH "SCHOLARLY" GARBAGE.

PREMILLENNIALISM means, in Lucado's words, that they MURDERED Jesus rather than FULFIL the prophecy of SACRIFICING Him in the style of the temple court yard with MUSICAL MOCKING. This heresy says that "Jesus UTTERLY FAILED but He is about to give it another try. However, the NOW BUT NOT YET KINGDOM cannot arrive without OUR paving the way so that He will not fail again." No thanks!

See the ConcernedMembers Forum at West End.

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=187120&messageid=1032835411&lp=1055715181

Quoted from Eric Hall
http://www.thywordistruth.com/Articles/ACU.htm

Ken Sublett

Mr. Waddey. It is not the "liberal change agents" that are the poison, it is legalistic pharasees like yourself. You pontificate and bluster about this man's book and his "heresy", but you have never met the man, and do not know his heart.

I find that the biggest heresy of all. The Church of Christ is DIEING. When will you realize that. All of the legalistic potificatings that you and others here do WILL NOT "CHANGE" that. You and you pharaseeical ways will die with your churches.

Others my age will no longer stand for the "traditional" ways of doing things that are explained with little or NO scripture just "that is the way we have always done it". I DO NOT advocate instrumental music in the CofCs, but I have been involved with worship teams that used music and it was God-breathed, Spirit filled worship - there is NOTHING wrong with it. The "silence of the scriptures" argument will NO LONGER fly with folks my age (38) and younger. We are smarter and more read in scripture than to allow that to be an argument anymore.

You can bluster all you want about "takeovers" and such, but it matters NOT. Things will go according to God's plan and if that leaves you behind, well then.....you are the one who has to deal with that.

I am not saying you are not a righteous, God-fearing man. What I am saying is that you are looking through a window with the blinds shut. OPEN the blinds and see the WHOLE picture, or you will be a part of a dieing breed. God will move His Church (all churches, not just CofC) forward with or without you.

JD

JD:

Yes, POISON! It’s not necessary for Mr. Waddey to meet the man, Mr. Tim Woodroof, and to know his heart. But the man needs to be known in the brotherhood as a “liberal change agent.” Indeed, liberal change agents are spreading the infection. Yes, POISON!!! And if Woodroof is not yet a prominent agent, he is on his way; pretty soon he will be as infectious as Shelly, Lucado, Anderson, Walling, etc.

Your religious background is unclear to me. But it appears that you are hoping and wishing that the “church of Christ" will die forevermore. You continually claim that it is “DIEING.” Do you mean: “dyeing” as in changing color or “dying” as in ceasing to exist? Either way, it is probably applicable to what you are saying because you want this particular “body” (of believers) to change, and better yet, to no longer exist.

Your attitude about the silence of the scriptures is exactly what the Roman Catholic Church believes: that the “Church” (RCC) itself has all the authority to evolve and add to or modify its own sets of doctrines, beliefs and practices. O, I see, you think that based on your music having the emotional appeal, your entertaining “musical worship” is God-breathed and Spirit-filled. Now you are claiming that you know exactly what and how God feels about your “holy” entertainment.

Let me make one correction to your statement: Silence of the scriptures is safe and keeps one from possible unscriptural beliefs and dogmas such as that the Roman Catholic Church has practiced, endorsed and propagated through centuries of enslavement of true Christianity. I strongly believe that God would not endorse “Christian rock” or “Christian rap” MUSIC in worship when it discounts the message to preach Christ and His redeeming blood.

Christians have nothing to worry about being left behind. If that were to happen, it wouldn’t be the first time. Apostasy occurred as early as and not long after Christ had established His church. Christ is our foundation and the “Rock of Ages” –- not the “rock” artists. JD, the whole picture is in God’s Holy Book, not in appearances!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnie Cruz

Donnie, you assume too much. I go to a CofC and love our TRADITION of singing acapella. However, your assumptions are flat WRONG about CCM. Give me a scripture that says that God is DISAPPOINTED with Christian rap or CCM....you cannot because you have NONE. You merely assert your opinion as do I.

You say the I must know exactly how God feels about "holy entertainment" as you put it. Well, mighty fine then. You are asserting the same...so YOU know how God feels about it? I don't think so. If I cannot, in your opinion, then YOU cannot.

Your correction does not STAND. Oh yes it is SAFE. But does God call us to be "safe" Christians. That is EXACTLY the attitude of the Pharasees! They MADE UP laws to keep themselves "safe" from God's judgement and then MADE others adhear to their "safe", MADE UP laws. You do the same.

When will you be clear about the fact that people will no longer stand for HUMAN inventions of laws in the body of Christ. Your breed of legalism is DIEING!

God's church will live on WITH or WITHOUT you. God will do His works through those that LISTEN to Him and seek Him out where He is working. When you become clear on this maybe you will join God's church as it moves forward according to His will...not yours.

JD

JD the Lion Tamer: Mr. Waddey. It is not the "liberal change agents" that are the poison, it is legalistic pharasees like yourself. You pontificate and bluster about this man's book and his "heresy", but you have never met the man, and do not know his heart.

Ken: A Pharisee deliberately ignored the OLD Bible and made up new schemes of worship specificially to draw people away from the Word of God. There is one thing that I can be fairly certain of: that all legalists are hell-bound. I would be VEERREE careful!! You guys LOVE to use the Pharisee and Legalist as PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE against anyone who will not let you throw away THEIR copy of the old, Shelly-sifted word which has only 7 facts ABOUT Jesus which can be used for faith and practice.

I haven't met Maciavelli but I read his stuff and see it used by change agents from hell.
====================================================================
JD: I find that the biggest heresy of all. The Church of Christ is DIEING. When will you realize that. All of the legalistic potificatings that you and others here do WILL NOT "CHANGE" that. You and you pharaseeical ways will die with your churches.

Ken: If I understand Isaiah the REMNANT of God's Vineyard was "one drop of good juice out of one rotten grape off one bare cluster off one dead vine in the Vineyard God built and then tore down the walls so the BEASTS could get in and spread briars and thorns with their dung." The failure in Amos 5, 6 and in Isiah 5 was MUSICAL FESTIVALS while the God-built vineyard died for lack of the Water of the Word (Isaiah 8). But the 'songs in the temple' with instruments would die down and they would be driven into captivity and death to the beat of musical instruments (Isa. 30)

I truly expect and will not moan and groan if Paul was right: if you want to find Jesus you have to get out of the walled-cities or temple states like the mega churches. I am confident that ALL groups failing to be synagogue rather than a pagan worship center will be enjoying a trumpet quartet when Jesus blows the trumpet voice.

One of the most LEGALISTIC rituals known in Bible history is trying to GIVE FERTILITY to the church with music. No ART which Satan taught to Jubal and others is so LABOR INTENSIVE as "making music."

Wishful thinking, JE old lion tamer.
======================================================
JD: Others my age will no longer stand for the "traditional" ways of doing things that are explained with little or NO scripture just "that is the way we have always done it". I DO NOT advocate instrumental music in the CofCs, but I have been involved with worship teams that used music and it was God-breathed, Spirit filled worship - there is NOTHING wrong with it. The "silence of the scriptures" argument will NO LONGER fly with folks my age (38) and younger. We are smarter and more read in scripture than to allow that to be an argument anymore.

KEN: Is it a MARK of YOUR generation that it is MORE NOBLE to steal the church houses of widows and the poor than to go build your own lighhouse for the blind as a "venue for Rock and Roll" (that "F" word again)

one of the Jubilating LIES is that the non-use of instruments is based on LEGALISTIC TRADITIONALISM. Anyone so terminally ignorant or terminally evil needs to be locked up and he will be. The Bible has music arriving with Lucifer (ZOE) when she was cast out of heaven for tring to get the praise for herself. She came with wind, string and percussion instruments which REPLACED the three faithful tribes of Israel. He/she is the "harp playing prostitute" and she and her harps and harpists will go back into Sheol with her.

The Classical literature 100% of the time associates musical religious performance with prostitutes and Sodomites.

The church Fathers universally grasp that music came with Satan to silence the "songs" of Jesus the Spirit.

Denomination founders all repudiated instrument: Luter: "The organ is the MARK of Baal."

No, it was the WRONG SPIRIT you hear: Judas was the Devil and his Judas Bag was "for carrying the mouthpieces or tongues of wind instruments." It was OF THE WORLD and it is pictured throughout ancient paintings and always associated with the perverted praise team of Dionysus.

Paul gave a direct command that the ACT is teaching. The resources are "that which is written" (by Christ the Spirit), the Spirit which is the Word of Christ (Jn 6:63) or the Word of Christ. God is infinite: no human can define how an infinite Being is to be worshiped especially when Jesus "cast out a worship team like Dung."

Worship is ONLY in the human spirit as it gives heed to the Spirit of Truth: the Words of Christ. The SPIRIT you felt was a DRUG HIGH: endorphins produced by "music" create the impulses of FIGHT, FLIGHT OR SEXUALITY. It is not of God or history and the Bible are 100% wrong and you are right. You USURP the authority God gave to the ONE ANOTHER and you "stand in the holy place" claiming that you are the mediator because you claim it is inspired. You insult and embarass people so that they flee in terror knowing what is going on.

The other lie is that the SILENCE OF SCRIPTURE has no value: the hole in the donut was God's Divine oversight and we gonna plug it. The Jubilators just lie and lie and lie because God has sent them a strong delusion. The Bible COMMANDS that we observe the silence of the Bible. All of church theologians believed in the silence. Only the latter day "apostles" especially in Nashville lie about the Bible and all of history. The concept was valid in literature 1700 years before the Restoration Movement endorsed it. This is best seen under Commands and Examples.

http://www.piney.com/ComExamInfer.html
=========================================
JD: You can bluster all you want about "takeovers" and such, but it matters NOT. Things will go according to God's plan and if that leaves you behind, well then.....you are the one who has to deal with that.

KEN: You guys are SUPPOSED to get them: God never met a temple He didn't want to tear down and John in Revelation calls Jerusalem Sodom and Egypt.

The end time prophecy is that Apollo (Abaddon) will loose the LOCUSTS. The locusts were once the devils MUSICAL WORSHIP TEAM. They offended the MOTHER OF THE GODS and she sent them into the underworld. Just now they are resurrected as locusts of musical performers. Their job is to MARK and drive out those marked by the Word of God in their mind and worship.

They hedge in those with the MARK which is most often a MARK made when music makes the brain connect MUSICAL ECSTASY with SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. You cannot undo that mark because "music produces the most addictive drug" which usually cannot be cured. The locusts with stings in their tails like scorpions continue to PUNISH those musically afflicted (a music word) until Jesus returns. Medical science has known from the towers of Babylon that complex harmony HURTS before it produces the morphin-like drug to heal the wound and send you a FIX which is a strong delusion.
==================================================
JD: I am not saying you are not a righteous, God-fearing man. What I am saying is that you are looking through a window with the blinds shut. OPEN the blinds and see the WHOLE picture, or you will be a part of a dieing breed. God will move His Church (all churches, not just CofC) forward with or without you.

Ken: I believe it to be arrogant beyond measure for a younger to repudiate a true Bible Scholar who is an elder who "teaches that which has been taught" and "rebukes those who oppose it" as the only distinctive job of the preacher and elder. Everything you say comes from your THOUGHT LEADER and I am sorry but you fit Matthew 13. Jesus is not a "little lamb meek and mild" but He comes with a Rod to PLUG EARS and BLIND EYES for those who reject the word. You are in the thick of it and you need to buy some eyesalve.

The Spirit of Christ demands that we NOT create "spiritual anxiety through religious rituals." All that you have been taught about the role of the church as WORSHIP is a Satanic lie: Jesus died to build his synagogue or SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE. If you play music when the preacher is teaching He will toss you out. How much more obscene to be getting your sexual, self-praise jollies while Jesus comes where we are gathered as the Master Teacher reveals through His Words--not your words.

"There is no exception but that musical instruments were given to mankind by demons." A recent liberal scholar. You are under a STRONG BONDAGE but that is prophecy.

Don't gloat about being with the MASSES. Especially in a world whose scripture is "Dollywood, Hollywood, TBN and he Grand ole Opry or ACU, etc" the MASSES are rushing like those crying for the ROCKS to fall on them into THE NEW STYLE WORSHIP derived from the Jesus Freiks and The Family of God of the hippy era. Have you ever thought that this means ROCK STARS to hide us from what we know is our just deserts because, as Stephen claims, God has turned us over to worship the STARRY HOST which was always with music. Saturn's number is 666.

Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he FIND FAITH on the EARTH?"

The idea of ekklesia is that Jesus CALLS OUT the tiny band of the faithful which I am confident will be driven out of most churches of Christ and into the wilderness as the ONLY place to find Jesus OUTSIDE the city-state worship.

Jubal or Genun in secular accounts was the YOUTH which Satan picked to teach choirs and instrumental music to seduce the faithful away from the Living God. Does Jubal sound like someone you know?

Ken

John Waddey: Change agents like Bro. Woodroof are prone to unfounded assumptions. Note the following:

Woodroof: The Jerusalem church "was a congregation shaped as much by Moses and the customs of Israel as by Christ" (p.162).

The "people's congregation" never worshipped with singing and instrumental music at the temple. The musical idolatry at Mount Sinai caused God to quarantine the Tabernacle and Temple. The temple was the shrine of the king and civil government after the elders FIRED GOD. The surplus warrior musicians were always under "the KING and the COMMANDER of the army." The Book of Ecclesiasticus says that God picked the kings to carry out the sentence imposed because of the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai.

Beginning as the Qahal or synagogue or church in the wilderness, the masses met together only as a school of the Law. The "instruments and 'making a joyful noise before the Lord'" was a common national battle cry. When they assembled this ALARM or TRIUMPH was outlawed (Num 10:7). It was prophesied that Judas and the priests would try to TRIUMPH OVER Jesus (Psa 41). The Dead Sea Scrolls make it plain that this mean the MUSICAL attack of the Priests and Levites.

This was a Psalm written by the Spirit of Christ and was prophetic that the SACRIFICIAL WORSHIP of the Jews would come to an end. Then, in the synagogue Jesus would "sing and make melody in His heart. Paul understood there was no PLACE for music of any kind because external melody is related to GRINDING THE ENEMY INTO A FINE POWDER. It is related to twanging the bowstring to send a SINGING arrow into your heart. A form of melody was the SOP Jesus fed to Judas. The Judas bag was for carrying the mouthpieces of wind instruments.

http://www.piney.com/DSSPsa41.html

DSS: They have overtaken me in a narrow pass (gap) without escape
----------And there is no rest for me in my trial.
--------They sound my censure upon a harp
-----------and their murmuring and storming upon a zither." Ps.41:11


Psalm 41 prophesied that he would try to TRIUMPH OVER Jesus with "blowing wind instruments and making a joyful noise" as the WARRIOR'S cry which was not worship. The end time Babylon harlot will be marked by her MUSICIANS and INSTRUMENT PLAYERS which she, like the king of Tyre, used as a "harp- playing prostitute" to double deal in commerce, false religion and MUSIC to deceive the customers. The name for the serpent in the garden of Eden translates to a MUSICAL ENCHANTER who wholly deceived Eve.

However, Jesus would TRIUMPH OVER Jesus when the Romans dismantled their temple located in Egypt or Sodom according to John in Revelation.


DSS: I will groan with the zither of lamentation
----------in all grief-stricken mourning and bitter complaint
-------until iniquity and wickedness are consumed
----------and the disease-bringing scourge is no more.

DSS: Then will I play on the zither of deliverance
-----------and harp of joy,
--------on the tabors of prayer and the
----------pipe of praise without end.


DSS: And at the beginning of their weeks
----------for the season of Jubilee.
-------All my life the engraved Precept shall be on my tongue
----------as the fruit of praise
----------and the portion of my lips.


DSS: I will sing with knowledge and all my music
-----------shall be for the glory of God.
------(My) lyre (and) my harp shall sound
-----------for His holy order
------and I will tune the pipe of my lips
----------to His right measure.

We will show that the claim that the Christians worshipped like the temple is false. The church SCHOOLED like the synagogue which was endorsed by Jesus when He build His Ekklesia or synagogue or school of the Bible.

Worship is individual and in the heart and arrogant performers make it impossible. We will show that MUSICAL PERFORMANCE was outlawed for the synagogue because it has no higher purpose that GIVING PERSONAL PLEASURE and that it is the burden of the priest laded on the people like pack animals that Jesus removed to give us REST from theatrical performance.

I think that there is a CULT: when one writer of the tight band makes a statement the rest of them sound just alike. They all have the same agenda and it is based on a totally ignorant view of Scripture and church history.

Ken

Said; However, Jesus would TRIUMPH OVER Jesus when the Romans dismantled their temple located in Egypt or Sodom according to John in Revelation.

Meant;

However, Jesus would TRIUMPH OVER JUDAS when the Romans dismantled their temple located in Egypt or Sodom according to John in Revelation.

Ken

I'm afraid you are all members of a lost church. You don't need to know what to do, you need to know what He has DONE. Accept Jesus' sacrifice now and be saved, or count on sharing with the Lord all the great things YOU have done! May God have mercy on your ignorant souls and those you lead astray.

John Waddey reviewing Woodroof: His interpretation of the sins of Nadab and Abihu in offering the strange fire is remarkable. "The sin of Nadab and Abihu may have nothing to do with 'innovations' or some departure from specifically commanded procedures. Rather, the text (Lev. 10) suggests that the sin involved here was treating God and their important duties CASUALLY, carelessly" (p. 208). This sounds much like the interpretation gays give for the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. Rather than homosexuality, they say it was their lack of hospitality that God punished. When a man is intoxicated with the wine of liberalism, everything he views is distorted.

John, this sounds like ALL of the false evidence: some THOUGHT LEADER makes up a lie about the Bible specifically to try to DESTROY CHRIST'S BODY and all of the band of merry men simply REPEAT it over and over and I'll betcha that not one of them have read the story with a discerning or honest spirit. They clearly understand Nazi propaganda: if you repeat a lie often enough the FOOLS can be FOOLED.

You remember that when Israel ROSE UP TO PLAY at Mount Sinai it was the musical idolatry of Babylon, Egypt and Canaan. Stephen and others said that God TURNED THEM OVER to worship the STARRY HOST. Paul pointed back to the musical idolatry in Romans 10 and in 1 Corinthians 10. The simple word PLAY enfolds a sin so horrible that God tore up THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT of Grace and added the LAW to regulate the lawless. The word is used of MUSICAL IDOLATRY in many places. The scape goat indicates that Satan was involved with Nadab and Abihu.

Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of the STAR, Azazel, the Scape Goat.

This story cannot even be touched in this forum but however much hissing denying the inspired word all versions say that:

----"AND Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he COMMANDED them NOT. Leviticus 10:1

Sure, Amos speaking of MUSIC in Israel and a father and son going in to the same temple prostitute was just condemning a BAD MENTAL ATTITUDE.

Whatever we can dredge up about future offering of incense, it was NOT COMMANDED at this time for Nadab and Abihu. The result of this TERMINAL SIN indicates that the STRANGE meant that they were still under the influence of the RISING UP TO PLAY and under the power of Satan.

There is always a but:

-----And there went OUT A FIRE from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Leviticus 10:2

Lucifer is the Hebrew Heylel. The name is derived from HALAL which means to profane or make yourself VILE. This is quite identical to CHALAL. This translates as "play the flute, pollute or prostitute" in the musical sense of STEALING one's inheritance. Lucifer was one of the Cherubim which covered the mercy seat. He was cast out of heaven along with his "ministering angels."

Therefore, like the word PLAY, the word STRANGE points to something very HORRIBLE which caused God's CONSUMING FIRE to destroy then so that Nadab and Abihu was CAST OUT like profane beings.

The word STRANGE is ZUWR which means a foreigner, profane, commit adultery. The word SING of Lucifer's CHANGE AGENTS of the area of Tyre as commercial PROSTITUTES.

The word SING as when the king/queen CHANGE AGENT of Lucifer SANG like a PROSTITUTE.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Is.23:15

That SONG went:

----Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Is.23:16

It points to:

----Shuwr (h7788) shoor; a prim. root; prop. to turn, i. e. travel about (as a HARLOT or a MERCHANT): - go, sing. See also 7891.

----The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Eze.27:25

As the PLAY at Mount Sinai as musical idolatry was so horrible that God TOOK AWAY THE COVENANT OF GRACE, the STRANGE FIRE hides such horrors that God instituted the SCAPE GOAT. This is the word AZAZEL who as a fallen CHANGE AGENT OF SATAN taught the youth how to organize CHOIRS and use INSTRUMENT MUSIC to seduce people away from the LIVING WORD.

Thereafter, the GOAT was SENT AWAY into the wilderness as a reminder of the STRANGE fire which some STRONG INFLUENCE caused Nadab and Abihu to offer. The evidence is that Azazel or Satan induced them to VIOLATE THE LAW OF SILENCE.

God still is a CONSUMING FIRE for those who fail to come into God's presence without REVERENCE and HOLY FEAR? Why are these people so evil? It is because the same Lucifer (Zoe) is causing them to sing, clapp, dance and use instrumental music--which Azazel the Goat brought with him.

Why violating God's FAILURE to command something will cause God's holy fire to CONSUME YOU.

http://www.piney.com/Nadab-Abihu.html

Ken

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO GOSPEL PREACHERS ON DISARMING THE CHANGE AGENTS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LET'S DISARM THE ENEMY

Change agents have landed many successful blows by accusing those who oppose them of certain failures in their teaching, worship and practice of Christianity. The effective use of this approach has been the reason large numbers of brethren allow these false teachers to stay and function in their midst, even though they really do not agree with their philosophy and call for change. The change agents present themselves as pleasant, kind, caring and tolerant and since they emphasize practicing the principles of Christ in daily life, these brethren tolerant them.

To disarm and neutralize these accusing invaders we must live our lives and do our work in such a way as to put the lie to their accusations. I challenge every preacher among us to consider the following suggestions which will effectively disarm them.

*** When we preach, let the truth be presented in love (Eph. 4:15). Away with harsh, hateful proclamations that insult and offend even good people. Away with sarcasm and ridicule in the pulpit. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one" (Col. 4:6).

*** When we have to correct a brother, let us do so with love and compassion, in a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1). Treat the erring brother or sister as you would wish to be treated were you in their place (Matt. 7:12).

*** Let us never be quarrelsome and factious in our attitude and conduct. Agents of change really make an issue of the quarrels and divisions that disgrace our congregations and many of our preachers. God has no use for the factious man, nor should we (Tit. 3:10-11). Be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). Give "diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph.4:3). If division must come, let it clearly be at the hands of the agents of change!

*** Let us live out our sermons in everyday life with deeds of service, care and compassion for those about us (Gal. 6:10). Greatness is in service, not in position or recognition (Matt. 20:26-28).

*** Let's us work to make our worship services truly meaningful so that no one can complain that they are dry, boring and lifeless. We all know the difference between singing and preaching that is uninspiring and that which is. Where worship and lessons are uplifting and inspirational, change agents are powerless.

*** Let us be less critical and judgmental of our brethren and seek the good they do and dwell upon it. If we are honest, each of us falls short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). All of us are limited in some areas of our knowledge. All of us desperately need mercy if we hope to be saved (Tit. 3:5). All of us have been wrong is some areas of our thinking and had to make adjustments as we learned better. Hence we need to be patient with each other and slow to attack, condemn or reject a brother with whom we differ. We should receive each other as Christ received us when we first came to him (Rom. 15:7). Such an attitude is "to the glory of God."

*** Let us be true students of the sacred book. Change agents shame and ridicule us as mere pikers who know only the outer wrappings of the word of God. Spend the necessary hours in your books, searching the Scriptures and verifying your information so that when you preach and teach, you can do so with authority (Matt. 7:28-29). Thus prepared, no man can gainsay your message (Tit. 1:9)!

*** Be interested in young people. Where they are neglected they will either leave the church or gravitate to those who show interest in them. Change agents allure them into their silken web and their apostasy.

*** Be flexible in all areas where God has not legislated. Many things in our life and society change for the better. We have modern buildings, creature comforts such as air-conditioning, cushioned seats, carpeted floors. Such things will continue to improve and we should be not resistant to them. Be firm in the essentials of the faith but flexible in all other areas. Such things as length of services, new hymnals and songbooks are matters we must not quarrel about.

*** Be evangelistic. Don't allow yourself to be consumed with fighting error. Be a soul-winner. Support missionaries. Build up the cause rather than use all of your time and energy shooting at those who have gone astray.

Follow these suggestions and you will create an environment where change agents cannot succeed. Their calls will fall on deaf ears because you have disarmed them by your wise conduct.

JHW

I find it amusing that the very same things you say should be done to "disarm the enemy" (why you call your own brothers and sisters in Christ "enemy" is beyond me) are almost exactly what the so-called "change agents" are doing...

*** Teaching the truth in love -- Dr. C. Bruce White's lesson on this was shot down on this site.

*** Correcting with compassion -- That would basically rule this site as errant and blasphemous to the concept with many of its writings, would it not?

*** Quarrels -- The only time I've heard these so-called "agents" talk about quarrels is when the non-change-agents refuse to hear their side of the story.

*** Deeds of service -- The "agents" are already actively involved in the community... oh wait, we can't say "community" without bringing to mind the idea of a "community church".

*** Uplifting worship -- The second service could easily be considered this.

*** Be less critical and judgmental -- Get rid of Concerned Members, and it will be done.

*** True students of the Bible -- The only reason the "agents" consider "non-agents" to be on the outer wrappings of the Word is because nothing can be found scripturally to refute the false claims.

*** Interest in young people -- Isn't this the reason the "non-agents" don't like the "agents of change"? I read many times over that the emphasis is on youth and not on the "senior saints".

*** Flexibility in non-legislative things -- When the "agents of change" do that, you call it being unscriptural and blasphemous. Accepting of new things -- that's also exactly what "non-agents" are opposed to... or at least this site seems to loudly proclaim it.

*** Soul winners -- "Change agents" seem to support missionaries and even go on missions themselves.

If you ask me, that was almost one of the most hypocritical posts I've seen on this site. What I'm essentially getting from your post, Mr. Waddey, is that if you give in to the "agents of change", then they will not have won. However, in the rules of war, I've always learned that the person who gives in is the loser. I mean, maybe my view on the outcome of war has been skewed from this war in Iraq, which we supposedly won while we're still losing lives, but it still baffles me.

The statements you make seem to go against everything Mr. Cruz and Mr. Sublett post on this site, as well as completely opposite to the reasoning for the founding of this website. Is that on purpose?

Jeremy,

I didn’t realize you were suddenly Madison’s pulpit minister. I didn’t realize you’d consider the ConcernedMembers website as if it were in charge of a congregation, rather than a site in which change agency issues are discussed. You started off correctly by mentioning Dr. White and his lesson. What happened? Did you skip the message at the top of the post stating:

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A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO GOSPEL PREACHERS ON DISARMING THE CHANGE AGENTS
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Donnie Cruz

Issues are not discussed on this website. They are mentioned, and then those that argue the issues are condemned as pagans and unscriptural.

No, I am not Madison's pulpit minister. I don't have plans of ever assuming that role. However, I looked at the big picture (which I think you should do more often) and saw that the name of the thread included "INTERACTIVE RESPONSES". I merely submitted an interactive response. Get off my back, Mr. Cruz. You have no room to speak yourself. At least I work for the Lord in building up His church instead of tearing it down like you do. What I post on this site is merely in response to errant ramblings. You claim you are showing people the damning ways of the "change agents"; I say you're not doing anything to help. You're merely tearing it down. You have never said anything positive about Madison on this site, you only report from your twisted viewpoint, and virtually everything you ever post on here can be disputed by people on both "sides".

I sure hope you don't consider writing on this webpage to be "doing God's work" or "teaching". All you're doing is trying to build your own ego up by tearing others down, attempting to align yourself with the radically conservative side. The whole site of "Concerned Members" should be erased from being, because it has done nothing to further the work of the Kingdom. I admit, I'm not doing any work for the Lord by wasting my time here, but I feel there must be at least one accurate report about Madison posted on this site, so I stay. I feel if someone is going to tell people "the truth", it may as well be me. I do not want someone to search for the Madison church of Christ family on the internet and find this trash dump of a website attempting to tell people how things "really are". It's stupid. I hope you get your jollies from writing into this devil of a site, because I'm sure God is enjoying watching His church get destroyed and torn down more and more each day as you and Mr. Sublett continue your nonsensical remarks here. I hope you're happy.

Jeremy...

I sometimes feel the same way about people on both "sides" of this "argument." Neither party listens to the other. "Conservatives" are so convinced they're right, that they'll run roughshod over the other person in presenting their argument. "Liberals" preach love and tolerance, but, in practice, are anything but tolerant with "conservatives."

Let's ALL be careful how we respond:

Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-47

Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to them that HATE you, and PRAY for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?

And Paul in Ephesians 4:26-27

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither GIVE PLACE to the DEVIL.

In Romans, Paul addresses the MUSIC versus SYNAGOGUE issues several times. Jesus identified the CLERGY whom He fired as "doctors of the law" as of their father, the DEVIL because "you speak on your own." They should be MARKED.

He addressed the common problem in Romans 5. The pattern was when Satan taught the you how to form musical worship teams, use instruments, that which appeals to the carnal senses to PLEASE yourselves among the fallen angels, the MUSICAL IDOLATRY at Mount Sinia and the total fall o the nation. They should be MARKED.

He defines a way NOT to please themselves with ceremonial rituals which AROUSE the senses. The solution was to use "that which is written" as the only way to GLORIFY GOD with one voice in Romans 15.

In Chapter 16 he INSISTS that the church MARK those who were causing DIVISION and OFFENSES contrary to the DOCTRINE

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK them which cause DIVISIONS and offences CONTRARY to the DOCTRINES which ye have learned; and avoid them.

[Your THOUGHT LEADERS have obsoleted DOCTRINES.]

MARK means to "take aim at." Division is grouped with IDOLATRY and WITCHCRAFT. Music is a FUNDAMENTAL weapon of witchcraft. If you stir up the PLEASURES of the flesh you are practicing WITCHCRAFT. One of the reasons for MARKING is the assignment of a MUSIC MINISTER based on his HUMAN SKILS. That is SHOWING PARTIALITY which brings ALL 613 laws down on your HEAD WITHOUT CHRIST the One and Only Mediator and Intercessor

They teach CONTRARY to the doctrine you have learned and are therefore heretics deliberately SOWING DISCORD. They have hatched a MUSICAL SECTARIANISM which is the most PATTERNISTIC symptom of LEGALISM known.

18 For they that are such serve NOT our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

The IDOLATRY OF TALENT teaches you Christ Denying doctrines and teaches the LIE of Tithing. That may be to FILL THEIR BELLY because they are too lazy to get a real job.

19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

The Patience of the Concerned Members and those they have awakened has COME ABROAD TO ALL MEN. The big lie is that to teach the WORD AS IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT is a mark of HATE. Only fools buy the PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE which is HEGEL AMONG YOU because the SONGS have a hard time saying JESUS and replace Him with a generic Lord or God (Gad, the God of FORTUNES). There are MANY Gads but only one Lord: His name is Jesus, Joshua or Jehova- Saves. There are many ELOHIM but one Yehovah: you are worshipping the ELOHIM of fallen angels.

20 And the God of peace shall BRUISE Satan under your FEET shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The REAL brutal and hateful attack on churches of Christ which see singing as TEACHING rather than HOLY ENTERTAINMENT hit hardest in 1997 when Max Lucado TOOK WATER OUT OF BAPTISM, and at Jubilee 1998 with men waving hands, swaying around the Asherah poles, singing ON THEIR OWN with Booming gongs and tinkling cymbals in the background.

The VILE (from the harp in Hebrew) Great Tribulation and Abomination of Desolation (music and sexuality in the Holy Place) should END in 2004. Seven years are about up and MUSIC is the MARK used by the Locusts or MUSICAL PERFORMERS to separate the people.

That is the year during the Pithian games (pytho the SERPENT whose spirit filled the young $$girl to "prophesy"). They have invited APOLLO and ATHENE to be the worshipful mascots. Apollo is the Abaddon or Apollyon who looses the MUSES-BECOME-LOCUSTS or musical performers.

Lord, we hope so! Just keep me away from LOUD, Charismatic singing, worshiping the worshipful leaders, when you sound your trumpet voice to call us to sit at your feet to learn.

Ken

Yes, I am not ashamed to admit how convinced I am that when the Scripture is on the side of an argument, such an argument is right. I can also boldly and confidently say that this particular argument is VERY WEAK: THAT THE “SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES” warrants God’s permission and approval to fabricate concepts, beliefs, doctrines and practices anytime the human mind and emotion demand, desire or dictate.

We don’t condemn individuals … that judgment belongs to God. But unscriptural practices have no place in the church. Having said that, I believe that it may be the reason why the other side has whatever misconceptions they have of those of us who “LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.” You said: "Liberals" preach love and tolerance, but, in practice, are anything but tolerant with "conservatives." What an excellent observation that THEY should be made aware of!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnie Cruz

Issues are being discussed on this website. Entertaining the opinions of the change agents –- NO! But quoting, referencing and teaching the Scriptures –- YES!!! Those of us who advocate the unadulterated teachings of the Bible have never condemned the individual members of the Madison body. I certainly hope you’re cognizant of the fact that it is the scriptures that condemn pagan practices –- and there’s plenty of that in the Bible. That’s what Mr. Sublett has been emphasizing all this time. He has exposed the history of pagan worship and practices in light of what the Bible says about paganism. Let the Holy Scripture speak for itself.

I am so glad that you have finally acknowledged that there are “change agents.” It’s time you also acknowledge that there is such a thing as “MUSICAL WORSHIP” that your “WORSHIP LEADER” is espousing -– both being UNKNOWN COMMODITIES in biblical teachings. It is also time you start teaching others what the scriptures teach. If you cannot handle this, it is also time to get the CHANGE AGENTS or your church leaders who support them INVOLVED in assuring the followers of Christ that their beliefs and practices are within the bounds of New Testament teachings! But this probably won’t happen. The problem is that these post-modern concepts, ideas and practices are UNAUTHORIZED by God’s written word. Is this sinking in, Jeremy?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnie Cruz

I'm not even going to reply to your last message, Mr. Cruz, as I do not have the patience to. However, I came upon an interesting discovery.

It seems that the same Brother Waddey, whose posts adorn this thread and others, has a website at www.christianity-then-and-now.com. At the bottom of the main page, it says "Design, hosting and maintenance by the Word of God Project." I followed the link to see who created the site, and to my surprise, I found it was run on a site called Morning Star Web. Hold the phone, Mabel!

According to reporter Kenneth Sublett, "Morning Star" comes from "Heylel", which also means "LUCIFER" (http://www.piney.com/Docorigin.html, http://www.piney.com/WinWill2.html, http://www.piney.com/MuTmShpd.html, http://www.piney.com/MuPerformer.html, http://www.piney.com/DocoriginIntro.html, http://www.piney.com/Farmers-Branch-Music.html, http://www.piney.com/EgyGospEgypt.html, http://www.piney.com/ZoeLookHills.html, and many, many more sites on Mr. Sublett's own website). Therefore, I can only assume that Mr. Waddey is running a satanic operation that he is passing off as Christianity! No, you say? Well that's the same kind of parallels that you guys are running to say that Madison is paganistic and running a false doctrine. Kinda funny when one of your own backfires on you, eh?

According to all of the Babylonian and Gnostic stuff which informs the MODERN STYLE WORSHIP, the feminist Goddess Worship tried to promote the idea that God was a MOTHER (You know, Mary the Mother of God) and that her DAUGHTER was the Logos who is Zoe. She is the superior sister of Jesus the mindless little brother.

Lucifer tried to get a jump start on Logos in heaven and especially in the garden of Eden. Throughout the Old Testament she is personified as the king/queen of Babylon and of Tyre. At times Shahar or Dawn was the mother of Venus the morning star. So, Lucifer was the evil pretend morning star devoted to music and sexuality.

However, Jesus was the TRUE DIVINE SON of the FATHER God who received and promoted HIS Spirit which is related to the SEVEN SPIRITS of Isaiah 11. There will always be a TRUE Logos or WORD in your presence and an evil LUCIFER OR ZOE FEMINIST word who speaks on their own and therefore Jesus defines them as the sons of the Devil and not the father of Jehovah.

Peter said that

------2 Peter 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things alway in remembrance.

------2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

------2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

------2 Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

-----2Pe.1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a DARK place, until the day dawn, and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts:

Give Heed or TAKE HEED is the only defined form of worship. We worship that which we pay attention. If we pay attention to the TEAM standing in the Holy Place rather than the Slaughter Pen then we ARE WORSHIPPING the team and the Spirit IS NOT HOLY.

-----Proserchomai (g4334) pros-er'-khom-ahee; from 4314 and 2064 (includ. its alt.); to approach, i.e. (lit.) come near, visit, or (fig.) WORSHIP, assent to: - (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto).

Rubel Shelly claims that the WORSHIP TEAM helps "lead you into the presence of God." That approves of Nadab and Abihu who takes the NATION'S incense (prayers) into the Holy Place. God is still a consuming fire.

That also says that the team EJECTS Jesus as the One and Only Mediator, Day Star and Morning Star. But Jesus ejected the TEAM like dung because they had never been allowed to be in God's symbolic or now real presence. Music was the MARK that they worked for the demons.

Ken

Now, now, now! You do not have the patience, eh? The Bible says, “let us run with PATIENCE the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). But … you deserve credit for taking the time to check out John Waddey’s website, www.christianity-then-and-now. Now, why don’t you spend time being REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE SCHEMES AND MOTIVES of the CHANGE AGENTS and their ADVOCATES? This is a crucial step in determining: (#1) which side is really trying to abide by the doctrine of Christ and (#2) which side is IMPROVING UPON (or “making up stuff” to supplant) God’s will for His disciples to follow.

The modern or post-modern concept of the “Morning Star” with references to Venus, Zoe, Lucifer, the gods and goddesses, the Babylonian deity, gnosticism, pagan worship, etc., has NOTHING to do with a WEBSITE that is offering “affordable interactive Bible-based web sites.” By the way, the site’s link is: www.morningstarweb.net/christ/ and its e-mail address is: christ@morningstarweb.net. Did you not notice “CHRIST” embedded in both addresses?

What a great way to tell the world about Jesus Christ, “the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16)! Jesus Christ is not only “THE MORNING STAR” but is also THE ONLY MEDIATOR. We do NOT need another WORSHIP LEADER to “call” us to worship. NOR do we need the PRAISE TEAM to “lead” us “into the presence of God.” Here is what the “TRUE” worship leader and mediator, Jesus Christ, tells us about how to worship our Father in heaven:

“Jesus saith … the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24)

Jeremy, please direct this passage to your WORSHIP LEADER and his PRAISE TEAM!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnie Cruz

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO GOSPEL PREACHERS AND CHURCH ELDERS: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
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PREVENTIVE MEDICINE FOR YOUR CONGREGATION

When an epidemic breakouts out in a community, public health officials encourage everyone to be proactive in order to prevent the spread of the disease. We have an epidemic of error sweeping through the brotherhood of churches of Christ. It is commonly known as the "change movement." It is most often spread by preachers but sometimes by young adults recently out of Christian schools and student centers, or by means of religious books and journals promoting this ism. It is a terrible mistake for elders and preachers to think, "If it ever shows up here we will make sure it does not spread among us." Chances are by the time you find out you have the problem it will already have gotten into the hearts of some of your members. We must inoculate our members by informing and instructing them before hand. We offer four suggestions that will help you prevent the problem.

1. Beginning immediately, plan and deliver a series of lessons that address the specific challenges the change agents pose. Ideally these will be presented on Sunday morning when most of your members will be present. These lessons can be approached both positively and negatively by showing what we believe and why on a given subject or by pointing out the error of those who want to change our faith, worship and practice.

2. A curriculum of Bible class studies should be instituted that will cover the same materials. They should be offered to all classes from high school through adults. The advantage of the class presentation is that there could be interaction and discussion. No less than one and perhaps two quarters should be devoted to this study. Ideally it should be repeated every two years.

3. A series of tracts could be purchased that address the areas being attacked by the change agents. Enough should be purchased that each family could be given a copy. Each week they should be distributed to all present with the elders encouraging all members to read it that before the next Lord's Day. For a catalog of available tracts call Haun Publishing Co. 1-800-231-9709.

4. A monthly bundle of Christianity: Then and Now could be ordered and a copy placed in the hands of each family with the encouragement to read it. That will place some 48 lessons in their hands in a year's time...all devoted to dealing with the challenges of the change movement. Copies mailed in bundles are .35 each.

The following areas of our faith are under attack and should be addressed:

--- The authority of the Bible for all we believe and do as a church.
--- The priority of the New Testament of Christ over the Old Testament for the faith, worship and practice of the church.
--- How to correctly interpret the Bible and determine how it authorizes things.
--- The relationship between God's grace and man's faith and obedience to it.
--- The necessary role of baptism to salvation by faith.
--- The nature of the church of Christ: its oneness, its importance and its relation to man's salvation.
--- The sinfulness of denominationalism.
--- Why we do not share fellowship with denominational preachers, churches, institutions and events.
--- Why we do not observe holy days such as Easter and Christmas.
--- The Lord's Supper, why we observe it as we do and why only on the first day of the week.
--- Our praise to God, why we have no choirs, solos or instrumental music.
--- The use of drama and singing groups in our worship.
--- The nature of Christian worship; that it is not an entertainment experience.
--- The kind of preaching and teaching God expects of his leaders.
--- The reign of Christ and his kingdom. Why we do not accept the pre-millennial doctrine.
--- The Scripturalness of the name church of Christ.
--- Why we do not have women in positions of public leadership in our churches.
--- What it means to restore New Testament Christianity.
--- The role of pioneer preachers like Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone in the church. That they are not our founders and their teachings are not our standard.
--- The sufficiency of the church to do its work of evangelism without human organizations.
--- The various kinds of traditions that exist in churches, noting those which are good, bad or of no consequence.
--- The possibility of preachers, congregations and schools departing from the faith and becoming apostate.
--- When, how and why we ceased to be in fellowship with the Christian Churches/Disciples of Christ.
--- How we should deal with those who depart from the faith of Christ.

As the right medicine can prevent many diseases from getting a grip on a human body, so the right kind of teaching can keep a congregation from being overcome by the false teachings of the change agents.

JHW

Mr. Waddey, You assume that ANYONE even looks at this site with the slightest inclination to GET educated. It is a JOKE! You think this site is an instrument? I think NOT! You are speaking to a paltry FEW. ANd they think as you do: Shove some more legalism down their throats and they will be brainwashed again...and the "threat" will be put down. You are fighting a LOOSING battle.

We are NOT going back to the tired OLD way of legalism. One day you will WAKE UP as many of us have and realize that God is taking HIS church (the Body of Christ) to another place....CLOSER to His heart.

JD, who lacks the courage to identify him/herself (must be an identity crisis!), is unaware that he/she is also getting educated. To JD, the doctrine of Christ is Pharisee-ism. To JD, the doctrine of Christ is legalism.

Since “professed” Christians believe that they have love for God and love for neighbor, the big question then all boils down to who or who doesn’t abide by the doctrine of Christ.

JD, I believe this is worth your consideration: abiding by the doctrine of Christ is very important for various reasons. The following passages are self-explanatory and hopefully will convince you that what may APPEAR TO YOU as Pharisee-ism or legalistic: (1) has merit and (2) deserves your support and (3) is never a JOKE. Trust me, JD. These are passages from the Holy Scripture:

----- “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Roman 16:17)

----- “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of DOCTRINE, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14)

----- “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other DOCTRINE … For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound DOCTRINE.” (I Tim. 1:3,10)

----- “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and DOCTRINES of devils … If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good DOCTRINE, whereunto thou hast attained…. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to DOCTRINE …. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (I Tim. 4:1,6,13,16)

----- “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his DOCTRINE be not blasphemed…. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the DOCTRINE which is according to godliness.” (I Tim. 6:1,3)

----- “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (II Tim. 3:16)

----- “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE. For the time will come when they will not endure sound DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (II Tim. 4:2,3)

----- “But speak thou the things which become sound DOCTRINE: … In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in DOCTRINE shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, … Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the DOCTRINE of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:1,7,10)

----- “Be not carried about with divers and strange DOCTRINES. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” (Heb. 13:9)

----- “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.” (II John 1:9,10)

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In accordance with the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST,

Donnie Cruz

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 10, June, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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LITTLE MEN

As a boy I read Louisa May Alcott's wonderful book, "Little Men." Today we see another novel unfolding before our eyes as little men are busy asserting themselves among our churches. While full grown physically, these men are are spiritually developmentally delayed. Some are dwarfed and mis-shapened in their faith. Examples of these little men are as follows:

--- Men who pretend to be profound scholars and expect others to accept their pronouncements without question as they seek to discredit our long-held faith and impose their new ideas. They may hold terminal degrees from secular or denominational schools, but many of them are quite ignorant of the fundamentals of God's Word.

--- Men who do harm to the body of Christ while being supported to build it up.

--- Men who claim to be helping the church while fomenting chaos and strife among her people.

--- Men who rush forward to offer a fix for the problems they themselves have created. I find it interesting that the schools from which the rivers of change are flowing, offer the services of some of their staff to help churches resolve the conflicts caused by changes their co-workers have brought in.

--- Men who seek to build their status and influence by bashing and attempting to discredit the godly preachers who blazed the trail before them and built the congregations where they now serve. Theirs is the ugly sin of ingratitude.

--- Men whose teaching and practice lowers respect for the authority of God's Word. Rather than honoring the law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Rom. 8:2), they tell us it is a story book or a love letter thus we need not be too concerned about details or duties and obligations set forth therein.

--- Man who refuse to recognize and honor the church of Christ as the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22); the church of the New Testament. They relegate her to the status of a human denomination. How shameful of them.

--- Men who think they know more about how to worship God than did Christ, the head and founder of the church. They want drama and women in leadership (I Cor. 14:33-34). They crave emotionalism and entertainment. They confuse these things with true worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

--- Men who undertake to change the unchangeable kingdom of Christ (Dan. 2:44). Who are they to put profane hands upon the sacred body of Christ?

--- Men who presume that the new is better than the old in the realm of faith. They care nothing for the old paths (Jer. 6:16). They are like the pagan Athenians, always searching for something new or different (Acts 17:21). The things of Christ flow to us from the time of Christ; from the ancient Testament of Christ.

--- Men who seek to commandeer church buildings and schools built by Christians who did not share their new "ideas of change." Rather than starting their own congregations and schools and building their own facilities they prefer to infiltrate and take over what other have raised up. They join a long line of false teachers who have used stealth and deceit to capture the property of faithful Christians over the last 135 years.

The church desperately needs "big" men with great hearts and souls filled with unbounded love and total reverence for Christ and his spiritual body; for his sacred Word. She needs men who are willing to become all things to all men if by any means they can save some (I Cor. 9:22); servants who are willing to spend and be spent to build up the kingdom of Christ (II Cor. 12:15); men who are set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:16). But she can do without the little men described above. May God deliver her from them.

JHW

Mr. Waddey, You should have entitled your message PUNY MEN, because that is what you are. Your puny legalism is what will drive the "Church of Christ" as YOU know it into the ground. But, we who follow God will still remain.

Your points are invalid for those who are moving FORWARD with God's vision for His church, the BODY of Christ. That BODY includes others outside of our DENOMINATION.

You type all of your "nice" words and yet still assault the church with them, condemning those that do not agree with your "brand" of legalism.

The only ones dividing the Church of Christ is people like you.

Donnie, don't even think about responding to this message...let mr waddey do his own responding, unless you are his lapdog.

JD

JD,

I know it sometimes takes time to learn. But abiding by the doctrine of Christ, for your information, is not legalism or Pharisee-ism. You claim, “But, we [JD and company] who follow God will still remain.” Let me tell you that you’ve got it all backwards. The intruders known as the change agents are the aggressors without God’s authority. Those who are not affected by the intrusion are THE ONES WHO “STILL REMAIN.” Get that straight?

Since denominationalism does not matter to you, when are you going to start attending the Roman Catholic Church mass and leave the “church, the BODY of Christ” alone? Huh? Now, let’s see who is “puny”!!!!

By the way, I may be Mr. Waddey’s lapdog. And I’m proud of it!

Donnie Cruz
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John Waddey --- Men who pretend to be profound scholars and expect others to accept their pronouncements without question as they seek to discredit our long-held faith and impose their new ideas. They may hold terminal degrees from secular or denominational schools, but many of them are quite ignorant of the fundamentals of God's Word.

Ken: Elsewhere, we have noted that those who depend on rhetoric rather than the Word of Christ are hypocrites and parasites. A parasite is one who eats at the table of another, and repays him with flattery and buffoonery. One who does not DELIVER the Word is by definition a PARASITE who depends purely on rhetoric and jokes to keep his job. Therefore, they do a NORM CROSBY garbage speak which sounds good to the CIRCLE OF FIRE but just makes them look like buffoons to literates. One of the ways God pours out His WRATH is to send the blind a BUFFOON to make fools of them so that they are without excuse.

A SCURRA is an idler, loafer, man about town: A city buffoon, droll, jester, clown, pantaloon, parasite or an ACTOR of parasites. These were once priest's servants at animal sacrifices.

Many of these pseudo-scholars seem to ooze out of ACU. Here is how it works: one team member writes a book filled with ignorance and all of the other team members recommends and helps peddle the trash. They kinda have a circle of who writes the next Anti- Church, Bible and Scholarship stuff. What can be the motive? Seems like TRAFFICKING in books is too simple. Lucifer trafficked even in heaven. However, he sorta took the praises of man and diverted them from God; he/ she USED musicians (identified as parasites in the Greek) to keep the Word of God from being delivered FREE OF CHARGE to the worshipers.

Reviewing "Discovering our Roots: The Ancestry of the Churches of Christ by C. Leonard Allen and Richard T. Hughes" makes you understand Paul's concept that "FOOLS LOVE TO BE FOOLED."

It would not be possible for a NON-PROFESSIONAL pretender to have so perverted the teachings of Martin Luther.

Dostoevsky wrote:

"I tell Thee that man is tormented by NO GREATER ANXIETY than to find some one quickly to whom he can hand over that GIFT OF FREEDOM with which the ill-fated creature is born. But only one who can appease their conscience can take over their freedom."

Then speaking of Jesus Christ: "But what happened? Instead of taking men's freedom from them, Thou didst make it greater than ever! Didst Thou forget that

----man prefers peace, and even death,

----to freedom of choice in the knowledge of good and evil?

---Nothing is more seductive for man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering.
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John Waddey --- Men who rush forward to offer a fix for the problems they themselves have created. I find it interesting that the schools from which the rivers of change are flowing, offer the services of some of their staff to help churches resolve the conflicts caused by changes their co-workers have brought in.

Ken: I have repeated the real story of my wife who took her Jeep in to get the air conditioning serviced. The repairman confessed: "I broke your heater but I will repair it for $300.00"

Listening to these false preachers and writers makes you wonder if they are still connected to their head: they certainly cannot be connected to Jesus Who is the One and Only head. They talk about terms like TOO INSTITUTIONALIZED. But, it is they who have the MONARCHY CURSED pyramidal structure of organization. I have seen 50 "ministries" from Auto Repair to Homosexual Support (they call it AIDS ministry.)

This is the old LUCIFER PRINCIPLE. You deliberately sow discord even in the garden of Eden. Then you infiltrate the king of Babylon or Tyre. You then use the principle of the HARP PLAYING PROSTITUTE to, in a real recorded event, "sell the king's agent CEDAR from Lebanon, they you send in the Lady Musicians" to settle the conflict in Wen Amun's head so that he can PAY for the cedar and conspire for his enemies to STEAL the cedar and kill Wen Amun.

Plautus: PHANISCUS "That eating and drinking have never stopped for a single three days here, bringing in wenches, living like Greeks, hiring HARPISTS and music-GIRLS.

------- kat-auleo , CHARM by flute-playing, tinos... to resound with flute-playing... to overpower by flute-playing:--generally, to overpower, STRIKE DUMB"

Singers were also identified as PARASITES. Music was always to divert and pervert the mind. That is why normal people were never successful musicians.

Epidicus noted that:

----But one matter and consideration disturbs me--what music-girl, one that goes out on hire, I'm to show to Apaecides. (He muses.)

----And that as well I've got: this morning the old gentleman bade me bring for him on hire some music-girl (parasites) to his house here, to SING for him while he was performing a sacrifice. She shall be hired, and be instructed beforehand in what way she's to prove herself CUNNING towards the old man. I'll stay in-doors; I'll get the money out of the SWINDLED old fellow.

That is what they do: during the Lord's Supper and fulfilling "THE LAW OF GIVING" the effeminate performing singers and/or musicians intend to help swindle the old fellows out of that to which they have no right other than as parasites: devourers of widow's houses just as Jesus warned you.

John, if they were EASY TO CATCH they would not be called SWINDLERS. But it has always been the case that God sends the PIED PAN PIPERS to subvert the mice to their rightful place. The MASSED congregations cannot have the Mind or Spirit of Christ and nothing makes them happier than to be SWINDLED by MUSIC and RHETORIC. Sure, they are good people but God cannot use them in the next DIMENSION or HEAVEN where body training has NO value. The eternal battle is with an extra-dimensional world which Paul taught resides in what we call our space. They are "principalities and powers of the air" and our weapons (instruments) are not the carnal weapons of natural warfare. We cannot war against Lucifer's instruments with physical instruments.

Ken Sublett

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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CHRIST -- NO MORE, NO LESS (a review)

In this book Milton Jones proposes to teach us "How to be a Christian in a Postmodern World." It was published by Leonard Allen's New Leaf Books, a familiar name in "change" literature. The author's stated design is to help us understand postmodernism so we can be more effective witnesses for Christ. Discerning readers will conclude however, that the author himself has embraced postmodernism and is molding his ministry to its canons in order to attract and keep young postmoderns under his influence.

He asks, "how do we fit Christianity in a postmodern world?" (p. 20). This is surely the wrong question. We should be asking how can we help those lost in the maze of postmodernism escape and find salvation in Christ?

On page 20, the writer relates how "many churches" are trying to adapt and survive in the postmodern world. Some "are taking more of an Eastern approach to religion by emphasizing an inner subjectivism and allowing for the validity of all religions." "Others are changing or softening their core beliefs. Congregations are giving in to the intellectual marketplace where whatever is popular becomes the rule of thumb for the church." "The new trend is to create a church that is more pleasing to people of the postmodern mind, while avoiding those who do not fit into the postmodern philosophy." In these quotes Jones paints a vivid picture of the change churches among us that are willing to sacrifice everything and try anything to attract or hold on to people who want religion without the demands of Christ revealed in he Word.

He knows and states the correct answers to the postmodern challenge: "In the postmodern world, Christianity must be seen as distinctive and not something that can be changed to fit an ever-changing mold." "Christianity and postmodernism, in many of their foundational tenets, are mutually exclusive" (p. 20). "In postmodernism we are to leave everyone alone and celebrate diversity..." "The heart of the Christian message is not the celebration of diversity..." (p. 33). How truly said! But his problem is in following his own better judgment. His practice is to change the church to fit the ever-changing mold of the world. Paul plainly says, "Be not conformed to the world" (Rom. 12:2).

He says, "The church itself started to act as if it had everything figured out." (p. 74). "In the postmodern world, no one can be sure of anything. But it goes deeper than that. No one can tolerate anyone who is sure of something." (p. 49). It is a cardinal rule of postmodernism that no one can be sure of anything, or be certain that he has figured out anything, especially in the realm of moral and spiritual truth. One of the chief complaints of change agents against us is that we are too sure of our faith! They are intolerant of those who refuse their program! Thus he joins them in this conclusion. "In the church of my heritage (i.e., Churches of Christ, JHW), we tried to figure out everything it took to be the right church. ... It was called Restorationism... But too often we put the emphasis on our work of discovering the ancient pattern rather than God's revelation of his current movement" (p. 75). Perhaps he would explain just what kind of revelation from God concerning his current movement he and his tribe are looking for? Have they received such revelations? If such are available, why do we need the Bible?

He quotes Mike Regele, "Thousands of churches are about to die..." "A local church has only two options as its surrounding culture moves from modernity to postmodernity. It can die because of its resistance to change or it can die in order to be reborn as something new. Either way the church as we know it will die. Most churches are choosing the first alternative. The second choice is possible only if old structures and approaches and perspectives give way to new ones" (p. 87). From this quote we can deduce that Jones believes that churches that resist the change movement are doomed to die. This, by the way, is what the progressives said a hundred years ago of our fathers who refused to embrace their call for instruments of music in worship and missionary societies. Strangely they survived and flourished and the change agents (Disciples of Christ) have been in decline ever since. We agree that those church embracing the change agenda will be changed to such an extent that they will "reborn as something new," i.e., a new denomination, even if, God forbid, they still use the name Church of Christ. Many churches will die as a result of change agents sowing seeds of discord that splinter and scatter their members.

Jones says, "In reality, society needs someone to stand up and say when something is wrong" (p. 93). This is true, but such is contrary to the change philosophy. They only have criticism for the Christians and congregations that refuse to follow them into the world of change.

He reminds us, "In our culture today, the facts are not enough to convince. In fact they may not even be heard coherently by the masses. Without a story there is little change for belief" (p. 101). One wonders, who told him this and on what authority? "You don't have to prove the story or analyze it to death-just tell it" (p. 103). But I Thess. 5:19-20 says, "Prove all things...."

He glowingly speaks of "Fred Craddock, the great teacher of preachers" (p. 102). Mr. Craddock is the darling of the change professors and preachers. He is a minister of the liberal Disciples of Christ denomination and a professor at Emory University. By giving heed to teachers of this stripe many good men are now enmeshed in the snares of the postmodern change movement.

He tells us, "Post modern worship must be something altogether different. It must celebrate the joy of life in Christ. It must be centered in the retelling of the story in such a way that the worshipers find themselves inside the story even as they worship" (p. 103). Perhaps he could explain why it took some 2000 years to discover that man must have a postmodern type of worship? The result of postmodern thinking and behavior is a society of chaos, confusion and disintegration. Whey should Christians even think of following their crooked path? "The focus in a postmodern world must be upon participating in the story that rests at the heart of the Bible" (p. 105). Does he mean we must give them a role in a drama program for the worship service. "The story then become the shaping influence in our lives and the evidences of their truth resides not in scientific proof, but rather in the fact that Christians pattern their lives by them" (p. 105). To teach sinners the gospel in the words of and by the example of Christ and his apostles is distasteful to postmodern change agents. They seek to discredit such old fashioned efforts by likening them to dry scientific experiments. What if Christians pattern their lives after false stories? Does such matter in a postmodern church?

To Jones, "A blessing of postmodernism is that it will create a culture unresponsive to legalistic, works-oriented churches" (p 122). In case you haven't understood, it is us who refuse to follow the pied-pipers of change to whom he has reference.

"Change has been extremely difficult for churches as the modern world has given way to the postmodern. However churches that are interested in evangelism will do more than change for the sake of change. They will have to change for the sake of the mission. They will have to change in order to help younger people find Christ" (p. 124). Millions have been taught and brought to salvation through the preaching of the gospel such as was common among our brethren. It is a venture fraught with risk to assume the church will prosper by abandoning the tried and proven Bible mandate of preaching the word (II Tim. 4:2) for postmodern story-telling.

"Older church members, accustomed to modern thought and modern churches will be reluctant to change. But that reluctance may thwart the church from accomplishing its mission" (p. 124). It grieves agents of change to think that any Christians are so stubborn in their faith as to resist their calls for change.

"One of our problems as Christians is that we may have spent too much energy maintaining our umbrage against postmodernism. Our approach has been that we are right and they are wrong. Such an inflexible tactic in dealing with those of another viewpoint doesn't work well in our current age of tolerance" (p. 124) A change agent does not protest, because he has embraced this new world view and is willing to adjust his Christianity to fit into its mold. The following quote verifies this conclusion. "Christians who actually want to see change should not react in a hostile way to postmodern people" (p. 124-125).

"Paul's unique realization is that there are indeed,many other Christians, but they are not all exactly alike" (p. 134). Note his implication that Christians may be found in all sorts of denominational bodies. Does he include Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, The Jonestown Cult and David Koresh's Cult?

"Postmodernists tend to have a negative, irreverent spirit towards the church and even toward people in general" (p. 135). So do change agents. An entire book could be assembled of negative, irreverent quotes directed at Churches of Christ and their past and present ministers, who did not and will not accept the change agenda.

He cites columnist George Will, "Today, however there also seems to be s small-minded, mean-spirited resentment of those who rise, a reluctant to give credit where it is due, a flinching from unstinting admiration, a desire to disbelieve in the rewarded virtue of the few" (p. 136). Mr. Will was writing about baseball, but Jones applies these words to those of us who fail to appreciate the efforts of change agents to capture and redesign the church into a worldly denomination! He continues from Will, "We have a swamp of journalism suited to such an age, a journalism infused with a corrosive, leveling spirit..." (p. 136). These lines Jones directs at those who dare to express in print their objections to his change proposals.

"We could conclude that postmodernism is the ultimate end of human arrogance" (p. 140). We add our Amen. In the spirit of America's liberal political establishment, he writes, "It would be hard to argue with the opinion that the people of the modern West became the most arrogant people in history of the World." (p. 140). What a broad, derogatory generalization. Most of the Christians in the world, including all the change agents, are among those he labels as "arrogant!" I suspect the author excludes himself and fellow-change agents from this judgment.

He says, "The church needs a prophetic ministry that will mature, nourish and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us" (p. 144). Having read sixteen books promoting change, I am impressed at the repetition I find in them, both in ideas and phrases. "Prophetic ministry" is one of them. I wonder from whom they borrowed it?

Because of its watery content and opaqueness, this book is not the serious threat that some change productions are. The author failed in his purpose to inform us about the threat and challenge of postmodernism because he, knowingly or unknowingly, is in it up to his neck. In reality, the author is an apostle, for a postmodern version of Christianity.

John Waddey,
Christianity: Then and Now

For more book reviews visit www.christianity-then-and-now.com.

When Milton Jones was taking over the "church house of widows" so that they had to conform or get out under te spiritual abuse of music, those who wanted to oppose the hostile takeover were told that if they objected they would be "SOWING DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN." And, even after 40 years with his wife a "founding member" he was issued his FIRST warning. Blacks were told that opposing instruments was somehow related to racism and slavery!!

The opposition was chided for using the "OLD MODERN VIEW" of interpreting the Bible as STRICT CONSTRUCTIONISTS. However, the MUSICAL idea comes into the head from Lucifer because the Bible and churh history repudiates it. Therefore, the "on the one hand but on the other hand" is SYMPTOMATIC of a deeper problem:
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If someone "scholarly" and who controls the SEMINAR SPEAKERS and BOOK PUBLISHING decided that SANITY created all of the problems, intellectual- incest "among the scholars" would begin teaching INSANITY as the only normal condition, and all of the insane scholars and book writers would join the apostacy. That is the meaning of postmodern view and the ONLY way for marginal scholars to get published.

Furthermore, if SCHIZOPHRENIA was the only NORMAL condition then the APOSTATES would climb on the bandwagon. After all "Schizophrenia is better than having no friends at all."

The guy who invented postmodernism was probably insane but in a jokester way. I remember all of the jokes and the computer post-modern prose writers by men who are probably surprised. But, they didn't grasp that among the "marginal" that if the advertisers peddle dung as food (as did Circe or church) then someone would write a book about its value.

However, "among the scholars" looking for new ways to fool the fools who couldn't tell the difference between an "INSTITUTION JOKE" and reality are ready and willing to put the Word of God in the past-tense. What is the option of the olden Bible being Shelly "sifted through philosophy and the writer's own personal" agenda? Why, the PARASITES must claim to be apostles, prophets and a Blackby-like Christ. We noted that the Bible repudiates such people and that in the Greek world rhetoricians, Sophists, singers and musicians are identified by the word PARASITE. All of the names of instrument players has the word parasite as a similar word.

But, men like Hitler claimed to be God's agent. How about David Koresh who took the name from the CAINITES who were the kabiri or homosexual CRAFTSMEN or TECHNE of Revelation 18? In the history of self- selected PROPHETS of a holy whore religion they were all doomed to be led into self-destruction because they all had the MARK of Cain (Cain means "a musical note."). The present crop will also be driven into self destruction as blind leaders of the Blind. The Judas bag was for "carrying the mouth pieces of wind instruments." He was a thief or parasite and an assassin. The Judas Bag is always shown in ancient pottery attached to the flute case of homosexual, instrument playing, naked members of the KOMO or comedy routine they tried on Jesus.

One of the components of postmodernism is schizophrenia as a desired state of being. In a religious sense it means:

Schizophrenic suffering from a form of schizophrenia characterized by FOOLISH MANNERISM and senseless laughter along with DELUSIONS and REGRESSIVE behavior. They think, for instance, that adopting the musical instruments of Lucifer the harp- playing prostitute is PROGRESSIVE. But postmodern means that people are disconnected from reality by choice. Therefore, they fall back into the archaic and build towers of Babylon manned by "priests, prophets, soothsayers, singers, instrument players and male and female prostitutes."

A desired goal to destroy the old Christendom and Bible is:

Schizophrenia: "a mental disorder characterized by a separation between the thought processes and the emotions, a distortion of reality accompanied by DELUSIONS and HALLUCINATIONS, a FRAGMENTATION of the PERSONALITY, motor disturbances, loss of basic INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONS."

Another and similar goal of the postmodern process is:

Dissociation: is "a split in the conscious process in which a group of mental activities BREAKS AWAY from the MAIN STREAM of consciousness and function as a SEPARATE unit, as if belonging to ANOTHER PERSON. The abnormal separation of related thoughts."

John has reviewed: "Discovering our Roots: The Ancestry of the Churches of Christ" by C. Leonard Allen and Richard T. Hughes who are part of the LOOP. We have looked at these quotations and tried to find them in the actual writings of Martin Luther.

http://www.piney.com/ Restoration-Roots.html

We found that the writings of Martin Luther make it clear that the scholarly quotations bear no resemblance to what Luther Said. That is, in postmodernism it is PERFECTLY NORMAL to misquote or even to make Luther say UP when Luther said DOWN.

But Luther lived in the pre modern world, we grew up in the modern world of reality but POSTMODERN means that you can be DETACHED from REALITY. As Rubel Shelly says of the sifted Bible, "You can use liberty to write your own narrative."

Post moderns have no qualms about using the law, LYING, CHEATING, STEALING, THREATENING and using character assassination in order to "steal the church house of widows." The new style worship is as post modern as witchcraft with the feminine oversight, candles and mind-altering music. After they do their PHARISEE act by using HYPOCRITES (A sect of singers and actors who were PARASITES) and steal your life- long church you will be accused of SOWING DISCORD if you try to defend the old modern view against INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC which is 100% condemned by all ancient literature including the Bible. There is not a jot or tittle of authority for the use of INSTRUMENTS in "the idolatry of talent." How can that happen? Well, in order to drive you into SCHIZOPHRENIA to make you hate the Bible and 2,000 years of musical history, they must themselves be SCHIZOPHRENIC or worse. But lying is acceptable in the post modern MAD mind of the prophesied small band of false teachers to rise in the end times.

I remember watching an old spook show. People had evolved in the post modern world to the point that everyone had pig heads with eyes falling out, large gashes in the face, lips dragging and worse. However, that was their understanding of beauty. Out of the bushes comes a survivor from the old "modern" world. She is a blue eyed blond and a picture of "modern" beauty. However, the people looked at the beautiful girl and were gaggingly horrified: how could anyone be so hideously ugly? So, what do we do to the old "modern" girl? Why, we drag her to the operating room and slash and mutilate her: lips dragging, eyes must hang down. THEN she is the picture of perverted beauty. That is what is happening in your churches this day.

Get the moral? If you read the made up postmodern view you say "surely this is a hideous joke made up by schizophrenics to while away the institutional time (in once Christian colleges?). THEY think that making themselves HIDEOUS and MENTALLY DEPRIVED AND DEPRAVED, the "Alice in wonderland" is going to think that they are NEW PROPHETS or even Gods. The message of Alice is that she was probably brain damaged by smoking marijuana from which you cannot recover. Some of the team confess to a history of drug abuse and their proposals for the new church of Christ sound like the vilest of witchcraft or Satan worship.

After all, the PRAISE WORD "HALAL" means to make yourself vile" in trying to alert God that you were worshiping Him. That included David stripping off in front of the slave girls following the camp from whom David looked to for honor.

How else could such an insanity as POSTMODERNISM or NARRATIVE THEOLOGY take the thoughts of marginally bright men CAPTIVE? How long do they think that they can pull the Lucifer joke on people? Probably as long as they follow the LUCIFER PRINCIPLE of bleeding off worship to the "idolatry of talent." Lucifer was the Harp- Playing Prostitute in Tyre. And she will be manned by the TECHNES or MANTICS or SOOTHSAYERS who do nothing more than conspire to destroy the image of Jesus Christ who "fired the Doctors of the Law" because "they take away the key to knowledge." In the Greek world the instrument players, public rhetoricians and singers were identified as SOOTHSAYERS.

We warned you that the self-speak is common to the BAND and if you don't DITTO HEAD you will upset the CORE DOCTRINES of the conspiring group. Therefore, the PROPHETIC concept is in warfare against Christ because to PROPHESY you must be able to say "thus saith the Lord." But, they are telling you that the words of the Lord must now come through the latter day prophets. That is why you read one of the books you have read them all. But as TRAFFICKERS they can sell a new edition even if it is a computer scrambled old edition.

THEIR AGENDA:

----"If we are to have a truly significant impact upon the national and international scene,

------"faculties of religion must play leading prophetic roles in channeling and facilitating whatever changes loom ahead.

Cut and paste the following link and you can see the AGENDA:

http://www.piney.com/ACU-OSBURN.html

But, it's in the book and all of history: they will self destruct like Judas.

Ken

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A Lesson to Fortify Your Faith: DO YOU REMEMBER?

Several years back a pop song asked, "Do You Remember the Days of Our Lives?" Moses encouraged his Hebrew brethren to "Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations" (Deut. 32:7).

Living in an era of change when many despise the things of the past and where moral and spiritual confusion prevail, many younger Christians have never known those wonderful days when God's blessings rested upon his church and she prospered greatly. From 1900 to 1970:

--- All of our brethren loved the Church of Christ and gave themselves without stint or reservation to her service. They believed in the church, not as their savior, but as God's saved people.

--- There was a holy pride of membership in the church. We had confidence in our faith. We were growing. We were building. Our champions met and routed those of the sectarian world.

--- Our preachers and our members knew what they believed and why. Most members were Bible readers and knew enough to give an account their faith to any who asked them about it (I Pet. 3:15).

--- Our brethren were not ashamed of their faith or their church. They were not apologetic of the sacred truths they professed. They stood up for the church and bravely defended her against her enemies.

--- All congregations had at least one, often two, evangelistic programs each year. We called them gospel meetings. Capable preachers who knew how to lead sinners to Christ were invited to come and preach. We knew how to knock on the doors of our neighbors homes inviting them to come and hear the gospel, and we did so. Usually there would be a harvest of souls. It was not uncommon for many to respond.

--- Frequently, all the congregations in a city or a county would pool their resources and combine their efforts in great citywide gospel campaigns. Those efforts had a great impact on all the community. Brethren worked together in love and harmony. They got to know each other more intimately. Christ and his church were exalted and glorified.

--- Back then thousands of average Christians learned how to be effective soul-winners. They used charts and filmstrips developed by skilled brethren and went forth teaching their neighbors. Many of those soul-winners who were not preachers, won as many or more disciples as did their ministers.

--- We sent out hundreds of missionaries to plant the Lord's church in new communities at home and abroad. We sent them not to dig wells or teach farming techniques, but to preach the gospel and save lost souls. Churches were planted in over 100 nations of the world.

--- Our preaching brethren were Bible men. They were full of scripture. They clearly understood why we worshipped and served as we did and they were not ashamed nor afraid to teach those Biblical truths in any forum or circumstance (Rom.1:16).

--- Our preachers were admired and respected for their Bible knowledge and their skill in wielding the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:10), rather than for their attainments in education and their interaction in community civic associations.

--- Our preachers generally spoke with one voice in proclaiming the blessed gospel of Christ.

--- They could disagree about minor matters and opinions without being disagreeable.

--- They directed their arrows at the enemies of Christ and his church rather than at each other.

--- Our Christian schools were bastions of truth and served the church rather than trying to change her into a human denomination. When our young people who attended them came forth they were stronger in faith and more useful to the kingdom, rather than confused and weakened in their commitment.

--- Teachers in our schools were chosen because of their Bible knowledge and loyalty to Christ and the church rather than on the basis of higher education gained in secular and denominational schools.

--- Back then false teachers were promptly rejected.

--- Apostates felt so out of place that they soon left us for other bodies of people.

Tragically things have changed. I pity those younger Christians who were not privileged to see the church in those wonderful days of old. May God in his mercy bring his people to repentance, purify his church and restore to her the happiness she once knew. Let the renewal begin with each of us personally.

JHW

Dear J. D.

You are really getting too exercised about my pieces on this site. I am sharing with all who care to read, what I perceive to be a threat to the existence of the brotherhood of people known as Churches of Christ. I have a right to do that. I have been attending the church of Christ since my earliest years and have been a member for some 50 years. Had it not been for the people you so despise, who labored and sacrificed to preach the gospel and establish the many congregations that fill our land, you would never have know of such a people. If not for them, the likelihood is great that you would today be a member of some denominational body, if anything at all religiously.

You eat at the table and then despise your host. It is painfully clear that you are not content to let the Word of God regulate your life and worship in Christ. You do not love the church of Christ, only those congregations that provide the kind of entertainment and religious activities that you find appealing to you. When you stand before God in judgment will it be your report that you help to hasten the death of the church of Christ by your efforts?

If a brother writes a book and sends it forth to influence and persuade its readers to reject the worship, faith and practice of the Lord's church, I have not only the right but the obligation to respond to it. I don't have to know the author personally, nor do I have to talk to him privately. What he has published is public just as your letters to this site are. You have not come to me privately before calling me a Pharisee, nor do I expect you to do so.

I suspect you do not really know who the Pharisees were, what they believed, taught and did. You likely have just heard the word used as a pejorative against all who reject the change agenda. Should you ever take time to read up on Phariseeism, you will be forced to conclude that objecting to religious error does not constitute that ism. I reject their distorted approach to religion, just as I do your distorted approach.

We are not your enemies, we are like the fireman that is trying to rescue the man from the burning building. Please don't be offended. Please don't try to destroy those whose only interest is to help you see the way to safety.

Respectfully in Christ,

John Waddey

Brothers Waddey and JD I think the 2 of you are perfect examples of what's wrong with the body of Christ. Will either or both of you be amazed to meet in Heaven? I believe that is both of your destiny, believing that you both have accepted the redemption through the blood of Jesus. My prayer for you and the others in your same situation is for unity in the Spirit and peace in your interaction. You are both a poor witness for the world to see. Unfortunately there are still too many in the body of Christ who would rather inspect and judge each other's walk, instead of joining in the battle against the true enemy. As you spend time with each other the enemy devours a lost and hurting world. I plead with you 2 and the rest to spend your time on building the Kingdom.

blessings,
chuck
<")))><

Chuck,

I would ask you to re-read John Waddey’s respectful response to JD’s accusations and attacks on brother Waddey and to JD’s wish and prediction of the “church of Christ” dying. You have shamefully misjudged John as a “poor witness” when he desires more than anything else for the “unity in the Spirit” and peace. Please also read many of the articles he has written under this thread -- it is all about his plea to rely on the Scriptures for God’s directives for Christians to follow. The issue is not about “inspecting and judging each other’s walk.” The issue is about “inspecting and judging” what gospel message or plan of salvation is supposedly being taught: is it that of Christ or is it that coming from man’s creativity?

Chuck, I think JD could use some admonishing and advice from you: please ask JD to start being scripturally productive in presenting his/her viewpoints as to why he/she thinks so negatively about the “church of Christ” and predicting that it will die soon. And it probably will … at the rate JD is rambling. (Did you know by chance who JD really is? You called JD a “brother” instead of a “sister.”)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donnie

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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VOCABULARY OF CHANGE AGENTS

The speech of a person can give indication of where they are from, or what even what their religion or politics might be. Peter's speech betrayed him (Mark 14:70). Those who are observant have noticed that those who are promoters of the change movement use a number of unique terms that reveal their leanings.

--- Those of the change movement no longer speak of "brotherhood." The chic term is "fellowship." This usage evolved out of the Restoration Unity Forums with the Christian Churches. "Brotherhood" sounded too exclusive so they adopted the word "fellowship" to describe our relations with fellow-members of the churches of Christ and extended "brotherhood" to encompass those of the Christian Churches.

--- Agents of change no longer speak of "the Lord's church," it is "our faith tradition." Claiming to be the Lord's church is thought to be narrow and presumptive. "Our faith tradition" suggests that we, like all denominations have our traditions, none of which are superior to the others.

--- Rather than speak boldly of "Christ as the founder of the church of Christ," change agents prefer to speak of Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone as the founders of their denomination. Interestingly, that would have come as a shock and a surprise to either of those great men of God. They dedicated their lives to escaping denominationalism and breaking down its walls.

--- "Grace" is a favorite word in the vocabulary of those who want change. It is a rare sermon, article or conversation of theirs that does not mention it. Grace is surely one of the great themes of Christianity. None could be saved without God's grace (Eph. 2:-9). But change agents mean more than salvation is an unmerited gift of God's favor. As they use the term, many of them have in mind grace that will save a person without him having to be obedient to the conditions of salvation set forth by the Holy Spirit. Most of all, their concept of grace will let a sinner be saved before and maybe even without baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Grace alone is just as foreign to Scripture as faith alone. Although it seems so full of comfort to those who are unlearned and ignorant of God's Will, it is in reality, a false doctrine that will lead one to disaster.

--- Change agents love to speak of "freedom." Certainly freedom is a Biblical concept. "For freedom did Christ set (us) free" (Gal. 5:1). Christ has freed us from the obligations of the Law of Moses. Truth makes us free from sin, ignorance, error and superstition (John 8:32). But when change agents speak of freedom that mean that we are free to ignore Bible teachings that restrict the way we worship and serve God. Especially do they wish to be free from the exclusive oneness of Christianity and the church. The crave freedom to fellowship and be accepted by denominational bodies. They chaff under the limiting obligation to "sing and make melody in our hearts" in worship (Eph. 5:19). They want to be free to use instrumental music. The wish to free women from the limitations placed on them by the sacred writers (I Cor. 14:33-34).

--- Proponents of change like to speak of "patternism." You may rest assured that this term is not complimentary. Rather it is a sarcastic put down of those of their brethren who believe what God said about his "pattern of sound words" (II Tim. 1:13) and feel obligated to "do all things according to the pattern" God has shown us (Heb. 8:5).

--- Those committed to change often refer to "traditionalists," meaning those who do not embrace their call for change. The word is pejorative. First it implies that what we hold as faith is really only our tradition. Secondly it implies that we are old fashioned, obsolete and out of date hence unworthy of attention. The fact is we gladly accept the insult since it is hurled at us because of our determination to cling to the "traditions" received from the apostles of Christ (II Thess. 3:6).

--- Promoters of change talk a lot about "legalism" and "legalists." Legalism is defined: "1. Emphasis on the letter rather than the spirit of the law. 2. Belief in salvation by obedience to the law rather than by the grace of God or by faith. 3. Undue stress on legal details without balancing considerations of justice or mercy" (Dict. Of Religious Terms, Kauffman). Change agents want folks to think that all who oppose them are narrow legalists. All would agree that the attitudes described above are faulty, but respect for God's Word and loving obedience thereto are not legalism. They are the fundamental aspects of faithful discipleship. Jesus said, "If ye love me ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). With the Psalmist, without shame or apology, we declare our love for God's commandments (Ps. 119:47).

John Waddey

Additional lessons on the change movement may be found at www.christianity-then-and-now.com. Evangelistic lessons may be found at www.firstcenturychristian.com.

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A Lesson to Fortify Your Faith: THE PARABLE OF THE MOSQUITO

Just recently I visited an old friend who is confined to a convalescence home. Just 65, Bill was still strong and healthy. He owned his own business and was flourishing. Then one night a tiny mosquito landed on him and bit him. When he felt the sting he brushed it away and thought nothing of it. But in the seconds that the creature was on him, it injected him with a terrible virus. A few days later he experience fever, chills and headaches. Three days later his brother found him on the floor of his home, in a deep coma. His diagnosis: viral encephalitis. Physically he recovered, but he suffered irreversible brain damage. Today he is much like a stroke victim. All because of a tiny mosquito carrying an invisible virus.

This poor fellow's unfortunate experience reminds me of a terrible spiritual virus that is being spread among Churches of Christ. There are men circulating among us like that mosquito. They look and seem harmless enough. Many brethren don't care for the ideas they are promoting, but they mistakenly view them more as an annoyance than a deadly threat. The disease they are carrying is called "Change." The carriers of this disease are a band of preachers and university teachers who have taken it upon themselves to introduce revolutionary changes into the faith, worship and life of our congregations. They have successfully infected a large number of young men while they were attending Christian Universities. They have gone forth and sought out positions in our churches....and begun to spread their deadly ideas. Scores of churches are already infected.

So drastic are the changes proposed that any congregation that embraces and follows them to their logical end will no longer be a Church of Christ. The symptoms are easily discerned: a loss of respect for the authority of the Bible in the life of the Church; especially a refusal to recognize the law of silence that forbids us to go beyond what is written (I Cor. 4:6). Victims are restless and bored with the worship Christ ordained and crave entertainment and sensual excitement. They tend to experience a marked change in their attitude toward fellow-Christians, past and present, who do not embrace their program of change. They feel a strong urge to reach out and fellowship denominational people and their activities. Singing praises to God with the sacred hymns of the past is unpleasant for victims. They demand new songs and instrumental music to accompany them. Their spiritual appetite for the Lord's Supper flags and they find it necessary to turn it into a common meal for their bellies.

The virus affects their ability to read Scripture. When God says, "I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have authority over a man" (I Tim. 2:12), to their jaundiced eyes it seems to say it is all right for women to do just that. When the Book of God says, "by works a man is justified and not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24), the words are scrambled in their minds and come out "a man is justified by faith alone without works." The change in their spiritual personality is pronounced. They dislike their own spiritual ancestors and embrace those who despise the church of which they are members. They often feel ashamed of who they are and try to disguise their places of worship, by calling them "Community Churches" or some other non-Biblical name.

This viral infection has reached epidemic proportions among our people. It can only be brought under control by isolating those infected and not allowing the carriers into the pulpits and classrooms of congregations. Students should shun schools where this disease is breeding, lest they too be infected. Any coming from a church or school that is infected should be carefully examined before being accepted into the fellowship of a congregation. Behold what terrible damage that one small mosquito did to my friend Bill. Be warned what one promoter of change can do to your congregation.

JHW

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More Bible Lessons can be found @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com and www.firstcenturychristian.com

Mr. Waddey, you haven't responded to anything I have previously written, so I hope you will respond to this.

What church are you referring to with your writings? You post on the Madison Concerned Members message board, yet basically 100% of what you write about does not refer to Madison. I thought the message board's purpose was to "warn" those at Madison about what is happening with the Madison congregation. Since none of this applies to Madison, I'd say it's in the wrong place.

I would prefer to not have the replies of Mr. Cruz and Mr. Sublett on this one, please, as this does not involve either of you.

Jeremy. Have you not figured it out yet? Mr. Waddey is the latest Kenny here. He comes and posts his propaganda and then puts his website down at the bottom so that you will go to it and read more. He doesn't REALLY care about all that stuff he spouts, he is just trying to sell himself and his website. Same as 'ol Kenny does. And most of the articles are just the same old worn-out diatribe anyway...no originality.

JD

Jay Dee, if you really want “originality,” you need to arrange with some publishing company to have a new book or chapter added to the Holy Bible. Be sure to call it, “Acts of the Change Agents to Transform and Subvert the Church Written About in the Acts of the Apostles.” I’ll try to be the first one to read it.

Donnie

Dear Jeremy:

Thank you for taking time to write. The problems that the Madison church has gone through and the beliefs and practices she now embraces are part of a brotherhood wide phenomenon that is generally referred to as "the change movement." It is a movement to change the faith, worship and practices of churches of Christ from their Bible basis to a new, modern format that is modeled after the Christian Churches, the Independent, Evangelical denominational churches and the Baptist Church.

Because a great number of Christians believe it to be wrong to abandon the Biblical ways our fathers held, we express our views in various mediums, including this site operated by those who have the vision to warn the brotherhood.

I knew Bro. Ira North personally. He baptized many in my family. For a short while I worshiped at the Madison church some years ago. For many years Madison was looked to as a leader among our churches because of her zeal and good works, her success in evangelism and benevolence. But I distinctly remember Bro. North telling me "I'm no liberal. I love the Bible and I love the Church of Christ. As long as I live I will be true to that." Sadly a new day has arrived and a new leadership have abandoned that commitment. The same is happening to scores of other congregations across the nation.

A similar change movement swept over our brotherhood following the Civil War. From 1865 to 1900 the promoters of change agitated for instrumental music in worship, non-biblical organizations to do the evangelistic work of the church, women preachers and fellowship with the denominational world. Their agitation divided the church and resulted in the separation of the people known as Disciples of Christ/ Christian Churches. That is exactly where our modern-day change agents are heading. Is that where you wish to go?

We write our articles with the sincere desire that we may help brethren realize the mistake of abandoning God's way for that of man. We write to call them back to the old paths of the gospel. I hope that you are content to walk therein (Jer. 6:16).

Yours in Christ,


John Waddey

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A Lesson to Strengthen Your Faith: GOD'S REMNANT

Scripture teaches that God has always had a faithful few in the earth who served him. That small group is described as a remnant, i.e., "A small fragment; an end of a bolt of cloth of good quality but small in size."

--- In Noah's day the remnant consisted of Noah and his family, just eight souls (Gen. 6:5-10).

--- In Sodom and Gomorrah the remnant was only four souls (I Pet. 2:6-7).

--- In the days of the Exodus, of those adult Hebrews who escaped Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were counted faithful to enter the promised land (Num. 14:29-30).

--- Throughout their history, the great majority of the Hebrews refused to walk in the paths of God. In Elijah's day God had only seven thousand who had not bowed unto image of Baal (I Kings 19:18). Isaiah told his generation that there was only "a very small remnant" who were faithful (1:9). Just a remnant survived the Babylonian Captivity to return home to Canaan (Ezek. 6:8).

--- Jesus never expected the vast majority of people to follow him. "For narrow is the gate and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." (Matt. 7:14). "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14). Paul affirmed that today there is "a remnant according to God's election of grace" (Rom. 11:5).

It is the faithful few who always have and always will carry the Cause of Christ forward.

One is not predestined or programmed to be part of the remnant. It is a matter of personal conviction, based on teaching and guidance. When we preach the gospel, those who believe and choose to be baptized are saved (Mk. 16:15-16). Like newborn babes they must long for the sincere milk of God's word (I Pet. 2:2). To receive the reward for the remnant we must be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10).

Only God know for sure if a brother or sister is truly part of his remnant. Only He can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12-13). We can only judge by the fruit they bear if they are part of God's remnant (Matt. 7:16-21). Each of us must examine ourselves to see if we are part of the faithful remnant (I Cor. 11:28).

This truth presents many lessons for us today.

--- A large church is not necessarily a faithful church.

--- That a body of people is small is no reflection on their standing with God. "It is the remnant that shall be saved" (Rom. 9:27).

--- That the majority of people may believe a certain doctrine is not proof it is acceptable to God. It may be just the opposite.

--- That the wealthy, highly educated or powerful do not embrace a particular teaching is no proof it is not a true principle of the Christian faith. Many prefer the broad gate.

--- We must not expect everyone to follow Jesus. We should not be discouraged when the majority turns its back and only a remnant chooses to follow the Master. We cannot expect everyone who makes a profession of faith to be wholly committed to Christ to the end. They never have and never will.

--- Even if many fellow-members of the Lord's church turn aside to follow change agents into denominationalism, the remnant shall be saved. That is God's promise.

--- Our obligation is to make sure we are a member of his righteous remnant by faithfully trusting and obeying his divine will revealed in the Scripture (Matt. 7:21).

John Waddey

Scores of additional Bible lessons can be seen @:

www.firstcenturychristian.com and
www.christianity-then-and-now.com

John,

I have a question for you. Based on your following statement, do you believe that no Baptists, Assembly of God, Methodists, etc will make it to heaven?

"Even if many fellow-members of the Lord's church turn aside to follow change agents into denominationalism, the remnant shall be saved. That is God's promise"

Is there a specific profile that you can create for those that are heaven bound?

blessings
chuck
<")))><

Chuck to John: I have a question for you. Based on your following statement, do you believe that no Baptists, Assembly of God, Methodists, etc will make it to heaven?

Ken: I am beginning to worry about you, Chuck. Why are you so judgmental is asking the question "Who is my brother" or "who is going to go to heave." I believe that judgmentalism begins by ASKING that question. A Christian is a DISCIPLE and asking the question hints that you believe that Baptists, Assembly of God, Methodists, etc WILL make it to heaven--or what is the point of the repeated challenge?

Based on your statement about a REMNANT being saved I agree that the remnant will be TINY. However, the REMNANT is not a predestinated remnant. The Fact is that God the Creator is in conflict with created beings. Satan is working to collect HIS worshipers to deprive God of the glory. However, God knows that the overwhelming majority of people are EARTHLY even as they claim to be "Christians." Peter warned that being part of the tiny group is part of our work.

. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: . . and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey . . not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
. And if the righteous SCARCELY be saved,
. where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:18

Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in WELL DOING, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19

Some of us are not willing to be silent while the serpents drag little children off into the bushes: so, you might as well give up.

I can tell you that Baptists repudiate the Christian Dispensation and put their trust in the PAULINE gospel. They believe that water baptism was for the Jews, and that Paul taught a gospel of salvation by FAITH ONLY. That is in error but you are not going to get a JUDGMENTAL answer to your JUDGMENTAL question.

However, as a result of the First Great American Awakening there were 341 new denominations including 4 Quaker upstarts. Most of those were Baptists where conflict was so severe that they divided up territories. At last count there are 146 distinct Baptist organizations who mutually condemn one another. So, just WHICH Baptist denomination do you want to save? Is there some feeling of RIGHTEOUSNESS in declaring others saved? Let me assure you that Baptists could care less whether churches of Christ AFFIRM them or not. The Jubilee Bust proved conclusively that NO ONE wants to be connected to a church of Christ group which repudiates the Bible and declares that "NOW, God speaks to us audibly." The people who create problems in churches of Christ COULD NOT find a job with either the Baptists or Christian churches because they are so RADICAL in rejecting the Word.

We were not made into either RITUAL WORSHIPERS or JUDGES; we became DISCIPLES of Christ and His Word. Our job is to "teach that which has been taught" and "refute those who oppose it." Then, we can spread the gospel without the vampires trying to suck out all of our blood by declaring that to teach the Word is "legalistic."

Chuck: Is there a specific profile that you can create for those that are heaven bound?

KEN: I don't believe that you can search the archives and find anyone sentencing others to heaven or hell or even asking the judgmental question. The point is that people brag about INFILTRATING and DIVERTING (that is lying) to convert OTHER PEOPLE'S property into a "theater for holy entertainment." Now, look at what Scripture declares of thieves and liars.

I see by your MARK that you are still a DAGON worshiper. I don't know about heaven, but don't let anyone tamper with the pillars at your "temple."
<")))><

Ken

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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EVANGELISM: AS IMPORTANT AS RESISTING THE CHANGE VIRUS

It is not enough for us to oppose the errors of the change agents. We must be actively engaged in building up the kingdom of Christ. Too many of our churches are stagnant in growth. More than a few seem to have quit trying. From my perspective our lack of evangelism flows from several sources:

--- Some preachers and elders do not seem to understand the evangelistic imperative of the gospel. We do not exist just as a worshiping or fellowshipping body of people. A major reason for the church's existence on earth is to "go preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15).

--- Since evangelism is hard work and since there are many negative responses to each positive reception, many brethren have chosen to erect a building, offer teaching and other activities and leave it up to the lost to come and get the blessing if they wish to.

--- If the preacher and elders of a church make little or no evangelistic effort outside of the assemblies of the church, there is little incentive for other members to do so.

--- We must be reminded that failure to evangelize is disobedience to Christ and thus sin. It reflects a lack of genuine love for Christ (John 14:15).

--- Another reason for our retreat from active evangelism is that we are wedded to approaches that are not effective in our generation. In days past gospel meetings were the primary method for reaching the lost. Today few people in America attend gospel meetings in a church with which they have no affiliation. Yet some churches still dutifully have their meetings to which few if any non-Christians come. Most people in our generation will be won, one at a time by personal instruction. That demands personal involvement. It demands time that most prefer to use for other purposes.

--- Rather than reject all of the methods of the past we need to sample all of them and find which will work in our community. Perhaps by modifying them or combining them we can come up with an effective model.

--- Another cause of our decline is our failure to teach and convince the average Christian that he is a member of Christ's royal priesthood, (I Pet. 2:5-9), thus he has an important role to fill in the life and work of the church. Too many of our people have gradually slipped into the false notion that activities such as evangelism are the work of professional church employees. They don't realize it but they are thinking of preachers just as denominational folks think of their pastors.

--- The fear of rejection by those whom they approach, keeps multitudes, including many church leaders, from actively approaching their neighbors about Christ. Proper biblical teaching would make it clear that rejection by the multitudes is to be expected by those who go forth with the Lord's invitation.

--- Still another cause is a loss of faith and conviction in the power of the Gospel to win sinners to the Savior. The Bible makes that claim (Rom. 1:16). God can still open the hearts of sinners (Acts 16:14) as he did in days past, but we don't seem to believe that he can do so. We see ourselves as incapable of persuading our neighbor so we give up and quit trying.

--- Another powerful factor is the prevailing philosophy of postmodernism that has settled like a cloud of deadly pollution over the minds of many Americans, including Christians. The postmodern view is that all religions are of equal value, thus there is no advantage in one over the other. It strongly asserts that no one has the right to judge another person to be wrong in his faith, worship and practice. That leaves many Christians unable and unwilling to even attempt to show their neighbors that their religion is not acceptable to God and that Christ's way is the only acceptable way to approach God. Postmodernism preaches that truth is not absolute and that each person, each culture, each religion, discovers it own truth, all of which are of equal value and acceptable to God. Such a world view is absolutely contrary to the gospel of Christ and it is paralyzing to the Lord's people who fall under its influence.

The solution is:

--- For Christian leaders to show the way, leading by their good example;
--- By teaching our brethren the importance of sharing their faith;
--- By providing instruction on how to talk to others about Christ;
--- By seeking and trying new and better methods of outreach;
--- By providing the tools for evangelism: tracts, home Bible Study materials (Videos, tracts, correspondence courses, etc.).
--- By increasing the amount of seed we sow outside of our meeting places. We must utilize the marvelous tools God has provided to sow the gospel seed. Radio, television, the Internet, Newspapers, the mail: all of these venues allow us to get the seed into the hands and hearts of people. Then when Christians speak to them about Christ, or invite them to our services, the seed already planted will make them receptive to their invitation.

May God help us all to be zealous workers for the Master who gave his life for us. Strong, growing churches can best resist the challenge of the change movement.

John Waddey

More Bible lessons can be seen @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com and
@ www.firstcenturychristian.com

e–mail: johnwaddey@aol.com

John,

Thank you for the most relevant message I have seen on this site in 2 years.

Bravo Brother!
chuck
<")))><

Chuck,

Certainly, brother John appreciates your kind reaction to his message on evangelism –- we all can say “Amen” to that. But I’m also certain that he is cautioning churches and individuals that the “CHANGE VIRUS” is for real and dealing with it is of NO LESS IMPORTANCE.

Donnie

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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THE CHURCH AND DENOMINATIONALISM

The denominationalism prevailing in contemporary Christendom is in sharp contrast with the church which Christ established. Consider the following:

*** Christ founded his church (Matt. 16:18), but mortal men and women founded denominations.

*** Christ's church was founded in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. but all denominations were founded long afterwards, in other places.

*** Christ's church wears his holy name. Paul wrote, "All the churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16). Denominations wear their own distinguishing names that honor men, doctrines or practices.

*** Christ is the only head of his church (Eph. 1:22), but men are chosen to head denominations.

*** Each congregation of Christ's church is overseen by its own elders (Acts 14:23). Denominations are ruled by governing bodies.

*** Christ's church follows only the Bible (Matt. 28:20). Denominations are guided by creedal books written by uninspired men.

*** The church that Christ built worships as he ordered in his word (John 4:24). Denominations change worship to suit the wishes of the members and leaders.

*** Christ's church teaches people to be saved as Christ ordained. They must hear the gospel preached, believe it and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:15-16). Denominations teach other ways of salvation. Some offer salvation by faith alone which Scripture clearly denies (Jas. 2:24). Others demand a Holy Spirit baptism, but the Bible knows only "one baptism" (Eph. 4:5). Some posit salvation on works of human merit. Paul plainly declares that it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Eph. 2:8-9).

*** Christ loves, blesses and saves his church (Eph. 5:22-25). But denominationalism is contrary to his will (I Cor. 1:10-13). Those who promote denominationalism stand condemned by Him. We are told to "mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ..." (Rom. 16:17-18). Denominational division thwarts the dying prayer of Jesus for the unity of his people (John 17:11).

Visit the Church of Christ where you can experience true, undenominational Christianity.

More Bible lessons can be seen on our website @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com and www.firstcenturychristian.com.

Dear Chuck:

You ask, do I "believe that no Baptists, Assembly of God, Methodists, etc. will make it to heaven?" This is the same tactic used by Baptist and other denominational preachers in days past. They asked the same question of our brethren thinking to pose a dilemma for them. If they answered "yes," then the denominationalists sought to discredit them in the eyes of the community as narrow-minded and judgmental. If they answered "no," they then tried to set them at variance with their brethren in the church of Christ. Evidently you are of the same school as those denominational folks.

In answer may I say:
* It is neither mine nor your prerogative to decide who will and will not be saved in heaven (Rom. 14:4).
* Such is the exclusive right of the Lord Jesus (II Cor. 5:10).
* God wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).
* God has clearly set forth in the New Testament that which sinners must do to receive his gift of salvation. Those conditions include faith, repentance and immersion for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
* Christ saves those that obey him (Heb. 5:8-9).
* All that are saved God adds to his church (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23).
* Christ established his church (Matt. 16:18) and tells us there is only "one body" Eph. 4:4).
* Every human being, including Methodists, Baptist, members of the Assembly of God, who do what God has declared to be necessary for salvation will be saved.
* Those who do not obey the will of the Father will be rejected (Matt. 7:21).
* All honest and faithful teachers of the Word will tell sinners to do what God has ordained, no more, no less (Deut. 4:2).

Perhaps you could tell us:
* Do you believe that people can be saved who do not obey the commands of Christ regarding salvation?
* What of those who refuse to obey the commands the Lord has given for receiving salvation? Will they be saved in their defiance?
* Paul wrote that Christ will "render vengeance to them that...obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord..." (II Thess. 2:9). Was Paul correct in what he said?
* What will be the plight of the man who does not obey the gospel, even though he is a member of a denominational body?

Remember that truth is truth, no matter how unpopular it may be. Truth will still be truth even though you may reject it. Folks who teach a different gospel than that which Jesus and his apostles preached will be cut off from God (Gal. 1:8). I urge you to "receive the meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul" (Jas. 1:21).

With best regards in Christ,

John Waddey

MR. Waddey, You started off ok with your last reaponse but quickly got lost in legalism. It is TRUE, God wishes to save everyone, and He ALONE will do the saving.

When you started going into all that stuff about DOING things to EARN a FREE GIFT...you simply contradicted yourself. How do you EARN a GIFT? Answer: YOU DON'T!! You accept it. End of story.

Don't get me wrong. I do not subscribe to the "anything goes" philosophy once you are saved. I think that you ACCEPT because you Love what God did for you and you want to live your life FOR Him...that premiss aside, you Love God, Repent of your current lifestyle and choose a life that the Father wants for you and ACCEPT His FREE gift. Romans talks over and over again about faith and salvation. How can you overlook these verses when spouting your doctrine of legalism and adhearing to the "5 steps"? God does not desire WHAT we do for Him, but our HEARTS and a RELATIONSHIP. I have met MANY within the CofC that think if they DO the right things and get their ticket punched every Sunday, that they will be saved...they no more have a relationship with God than I do with my Dog.

The reason this is so, is because all of MY life in the CofC, which is 38+ years, we have not been taught about relationship, we have been taught religion, and it is STILL going on...look at teh articles you publish. You focus on the worship style and change agents and what they are doing to your "precious". Have you ever considered that God is moving HIS protion of the Body of Christ in the CofC FORWARD and leaving legalists like you BEHIND? Think on that...

I think you may have misunderstood the intent of all of these things you have to "DO". Yes, you accept a free gift, but if you have a relationship with Christ as you claim you will keep his commandments. see John 14:15

Out of love we "do" lots of things. If I don't take my wife out to dinner on her birthday that hurts the relationship, because I know that is what she wants me to do.

This is the same as faith and works. If you say you have faith there will be actions that others will look for in your life to see if your actions back your statements up. If not those who hear you say you have faith will not believe you.

The gift is free, but what do you do with it? If I lose my wedding ring (a gift that is precious to me) I'll be in the dog house for a few decades. Not for the gold, but because of all the effort my wife went through to get it for me, therefore I do my best to treat the gift in a reverent manner. If your relationship with Christ is important to you will treat it as such, which comes full circle to John 14:15, keeping Christs commandments.

John 1:1-3 Since Christ is the "Word" then keeping his commandments would mean following the book. According to Mr. Waddey's amswer he is suggesting just that.

Doing things is not at all bad if it is in the word, because we are commanded to by our Lord and Savior.

As to the worship style etc. What I have heard for authority on it is a lot of "I think" and "I feel". That sounds like postmodernism to me. Postmodernism bit me pretty hard at one of my first jobs. I was a mechanic while in school. I knew most part numbers for common vehicles regarding simple stuff(filters and such). One day I "felt" and "thought" that a certain Jeep took an abc123 oil filter. Instead it took an xyz789. One motor later, my boss nailed into my head how important "the book" is. In that case a parts book, but the lesson is easily applied to ones spiritual life.

Do what is in The Book!

Jay DEE,

Didn't Jesus say, "If ye love me, keep my commandments?"

E.B.

To Jay Dee … [what’s your last name?]:

JD, you remind me so much of Jeff Day -- language, malicious remarks, etc. –- he was banned after so many abuses of this site’s privileges. If I were you, I would set some limit to the number of malicious attacks you have against those who teach and preach only the Scriptures. That is not legalism: you do not know what the word means. Otherwise, you would also attack the apostles, if they were alive today. In many of their writings, they warn us about false teachers and false doctrines.

Relationship with Christ is an individual Christian’s responsibility; it cannot be borrowed or acquired from someone else. But before one can develop that relationship as a Christian, he must first become a Christian, and that process is clearly set forth in the scriptures. It is pretty evident that you’ve acquired your new found belief in salvation “the easy way” from your Baptist neighbors. This is how simplistic and wrong your doctrine is…. Condition (a case): “Jay Dee, you must leave home and go to XYZ Building in New York City in order to receive your free gift.” In this case, Jay Dee ignores the specific instruction to go, but instead expects the “free gift” delivered by Express Mail. I trust that you get the point.

I believe the moderators posted your article this time because it contained more “words” than usual, although they’re nothing more than your usual “putting down” of the church of which you “still claim” to be a member. Unless you’re already one of them, you are much like the change agents with the same scheme: to disrupt and intrude and interfere with the affairs of the church.

Brother John Waddey has already responded to you regarding the same blah-blah-blah accusations. I strongly believe that he is not going to waste his time anymore responding to your wishes that the church of Christ will die soon. So, I’m going to quote IN PART his response to you not too long ago:

A Response to J.D. from John Waddey, July 8 2003, 2:54 PM
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[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
Dear J. D.

You are really getting too exercised about my pieces on this site. I am sharing with all who care to read, what I perceive to be a threat to the existence of the brotherhood of people known as Churches of Christ. I have a right to do that….

You eat at the table and then despise your host. It is painfully clear that you are not content to let the Word of God regulate your life and worship in Christ. You do not love the church of Christ, only those congregations that provide the kind of entertainment and religious activities that you find appealing to you. When you stand before God in judgment will it be your report that you help to hasten the death of the church of Christ by your efforts?

… You have not come to me privately before calling me a Pharisee, nor do I expect you to do so. I suspect you do not really know who the Pharisees were, what they believed, taught and did. You likely have just heard the word used as a pejorative against all who reject the change agenda. Should you ever take time to read up on Phariseeism, you will be forced to conclude that objecting to religious error does not constitute that ism. I reject their distorted approach to religion, just as I do your distorted approach.

We are not your enemies, we are like the fireman that is trying to rescue the man from the burning building. Please don't be offended. Please don't try to destroy those whose only interest is to help you see the way to safety.

Respectfully in Christ,

John Waddey
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Donnie

Thanks John. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. One must accept His payment for the debt they owe. The true believer will be obedient to His commands to love God with everything...and mankind the same way. One must hold nothing back!

chuck
<")))><

Chuck:

I’m taking your “Thanks, John” to mean that you agree with him on all the items or elements he enumerated in answer to the question, “Who will be saved?” I trust that you noticed him citing scripture references with all the statements (except for one). I’m sure you’re extremely happy right now with the response you wanted to hear from him [or me or Chris] that:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“* Every human being, including Methodists, Baptist, members of the Assembly of God, who do what God has declared to be necessary for salvation will be saved.”
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Now, Chuck, I sincerely hope that you DID NOT STOP before the all-important ending clause: “WHO DO WHAT GOD HAS DECLARED TO BE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION WILL BE SAVED.” Let us be clear that:

(1) There are requirements or conditions [man’s part to meet] to receiving the free gift of salvation by His grace and Christ’s blood [God’s part to offer] in order for one to become a Christian; and

(2) The Christian, who can possibly “fall from grace,” must strive to do God’s will [Luke 13:24; Heb. 5:8-9] and “run with patience the race that is set before us” [Heb. 12:1] till the end in order to receive the promise of eternal life.

Just in case it’s still unclear to you, please note the key words in John’s remarks: “EVERY human being … who DOES what God has declared … NECESSARY for salvation.”

;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
Chuck, something that bothers me somewhat is the missing reaction or response from you when John said: “Perhaps you could tell us:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Do you believe that people can be saved who do not obey the commands of Christ regarding salvation?
* What of those who refuse to obey the commands the Lord has given for receiving salvation? Will they be saved in their defiance?
* Paul wrote that Christ will "render vengeance to them that...obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord..." (II Thess. 2:9). Was Paul correct in what he said?
* What will be the plight of the man who does not obey the gospel, even though he is a member of a denominational body?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s only fair that you’re asked the “cause and effect” situation, as in “can one be saved … otherwise”? Could you please expound?
;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Thanks,

Donnie

Donnie,

I've been out of town for almost a month. It sure feels good to kick my feet up in my favorite recliner and take a deep breath.

All who receive the gift will be saved. Naturally, after receiving the gift of redemption, one must continue on the path toward God and heaven. I find that the one thing that will keep many from remaining on the path is sacrifice. God wants the same thing from all his children. Surrender all that you are holding tight. Allow God's Spirit to live through you.

The first step of obedience after accepting the gift is immersion in the waters of baptism. My friend and mechanic who accepted the gift just before I left for my trip will take that plunge tomorrow. Not only he, but his daughter are taking the plunge. Praise God for His mercy and patience with us.

blessings
chuck
<")))><

ps...it won't be at Madison...so I'll miss you again tomorrow.

Dear Bro. Jay Dee:

My question to you is why do you stay within the fellowship of churches of Christ when you obviously have nothing but contempt for them? Your theology is that of the Protestant World; salvation by grace through faith alone. Of course such is contrary to the Bible (See Matt. 7:21 and Heb. 5:9), but such seems not to bother you. You toss the terms legalist and legalism at those you despise much like racists throw their epithets at those they don't like. Calling a brother a bad name does not prove that he is guilty as charged. In case you have never considered it, being Biblical is not at all the same as being a legalist. Jesus tells us to teach people to observe all things whatsoever he commanded (Matt. 28:20). The words He spoke will judge us (John 12:48). Do you believe this? Do you live by it? Do you teach it? If you wish to be a Christian and a member of the church which Christ built you should be willing to do as Paul taught: "by that same rule let us walk" (Phil.3:16). May we presume that you believe that Paul knew what he was talking about?

Best regards in Christ,
John Waddey

Wow. I’d like to offer a point or two for consideration:

Quote: My question to you is why do you stay within the fellowship of churches of Christ when you obviously have nothing but contempt for them? Your theology is that of the Protestant World; salvation by grace through faith alone. Of course such is contrary to the Bible (See Matt. 7:21 and Heb. 5:9), but such seems not to bother you.

Jay Dee is a member of the Church because he was added to it by God, Mr. Waddey. I have respect for those who don’t change church affiliation as they grow in their faith and study the Bible – we are a family bought by blood that isn’t ours, and we’ve been commanded to stick together as we all individually work out our salvation in fear and trembling before the Lord.

Secondly, I urge you to think twice before dismissing the verbage and concept of “salvation by grace through faith alone”. Because we have been brought up in our tradition, some of us tend to wrinkle our noses and toss the terms “cheap grace” somewhat contemptuously at others who preach such things. But it is true, Mr. Waddey. We have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and God chose to save us because of his great mercy and goodness. That’s it. We will boast of nothing before the Lord – not of figuring out the gospel, or of having great theology. We are turned from slaves to sin and objects of wrath to inwardly circumcised children of God born of the Spirit. All of this is biblical teaching, and reflect orthodox Christianity. In the Church of Christ, we have a tendency to speak of grace very quickly, if at all, and then spend the rest of the 20 minute sermon on “our response in obedience” - kind of a "yeswe'resavedbygrace, BUT...." which is one of the things Jay Dee seems to be weary of – and who could blame him?! Let’s give it up for a second and thank the Lord again! We need to hear the truth over and over, God’s mercy and goodness to us. IT PUTS BOTH HIM AND US IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE.

You are referring, I believe, to justification, as the Hebrew writer writes of being justified not only by faith, but by works (ie obedience). This is interesting. On one hand, scripture teaches that we are justified in Christ Jesus by his finished work on the cross (and them he called, he also justified…). So, if this is true, which it is, what does the apostle mean in Hebrews? While I struggle to comprehend what he’s saying, I feel sure of this – in terms of obedience, it is impossible to speak of it without speaking of faith. Obedience that pleases the Lord, or fruits of the Spirit, belong only to those who are believers of Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians Ch1 speaks of our work being “prompted by faith"...and goes on to beautifully depict how we may know “our election of God” (KJV 1 Thes 1:4): that the gospel came to that church not only in word but also in the power of the Holy Spirit, that they became imitators of the apostles and the Lord, they were examples to everyone and evangelists of the gospel, they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and wait for His son. Paul knew that the church was chosen/saved by God because of the fruit they produced. Was the church in Thessalonica able to figure things out better than other churches? Once again, Paul said that their works were of faith, their labors of love...could they boast in their faith? Eph 2 says that our very faith is a gift from God...for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. So it's true, none of us can really boast of anything. Didn't Jesus say in John...a man can only receive what is given him from God? He's given us everything we need to do His work here (2 Peter 1:3-10)

Basically, I’m just making the point that without faith, it is impossible to be obedient to the Lord. I think that Jay Dee also referred to that with frustration, that oft times obedience is taught with little regard to our relationship with the Father, which can be very ineffective and frustrating to persons struggling with sin. Without divine help, our fallen human nature literally isn't able to choose to submit to the Lord or obey Him (Rom 8, for one). Obedience is the fruit of saving faith, as are a number of other qualities – love, perseverance, etc. That's why Christians are to look different than the world - we glorify God and proclaim the transforming power of the cross when we display HIS gifts to an unbelieving world. Do you agree?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Respectfully,
Luci

Dear Luci:

Thanks for taking time to share your observations about my reply to Jay Dee.

I do not dispute that our friend Jay Dee was added by the Lord to His church, but I must remind you that God tells us that a Christian can "fall away from the faith" by giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (I Tim. 4:1). A saved soul can make “shipwreck concerning the faith" (I Tim. 1:19). A Christian can go onward and no longer abide in the teaching of Christ. In so doing he reaches a state where he has no communion with either the Father or the Son (II John 9)

You say you have respect for "those who don't change church affiliation as they grow in their faith and study the Bible." So do I so long as they continue to love the church and abide in the teaching of Christ (II John 9). But when their study and growth takes them away from the boundaries of God's Word and turns them into hostile, sarcastic critics of Christ's church I no longer have respect for them. I only pity them for thrusting aside the truth of the gospel and judging themselves unworthy of eternal life (Acts 13:46). I must say that it is a stretch of the language to say that Bro. Jay Dee has grown in his Bible knowledge. Do you really think that Bro. Jay Dee has actually grown in his Bible knowledge?

While it is true that God expects us to be united, his unity is not unconditional. He himself tells us to refuse the brother who is factious (Tit. 3:10). Immoral people must be put away (I Cor. 5:13). Those who cause division by teaching things contrary to the doctrine given by the apostles are to be marked and turned away from (Rom. 16:17). Those who walk disorderly and not after the traditions received from the apostles, by command, we must not fellowship (II Thess. 3:6).

You urge me to "think twice before dismissing the verbiage and concept of salvation by grace through faith alone." You believe that you were "saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; and God chose to save us because of his great mercy and goodness." This is a truthful statement with which every literate Bible reader would have to agree. But then you add "That's it" which must mean that you believe in salvation by grace through faith alone. Such is the common mistake of Protestants since the days of Martin Luther. You evidently believe in salvation by faith alone but James, an inspired man of God, says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works...? Thou seest that faith wrought with his wok, and by works was faith made perfect...Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith...For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from work is dead" (Jas. 2:20-26). This understanding of salvation by faith is from the Holy Spirit, the understanding you set forth is from men!

Your lengthy discussion of one boasting of his works or achievements is a strawman for no one with a modicum of Bible knowledge would dare boast about what he has done in reference to his salvation. Beating a strawman proves nothing.

You close by saying, "I'm just making the point, that without faith it is impossible to be obedient to the Lord." This being the case, you have labored long to prove that which all agree with. "Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto God" (Heb. 11:6).

Just as a person who is a Roman Catholic in faith and conviction has no business trying to function in a conservative Lutheran Church, so a person who no longer believes and accepts the Christianity revealed in the New Testament has no place in the fellowship of Churches of Christ.

God be with you,

John Waddey

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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AVOIDING THE DITCHES

The highway of holiness has dangerous ditches on both right and left hand sides. Whether we wreck on one side or the other is of little consequence. The results are fatal in either case. Moses warned Israel, "Ye shall walk in all the way which Jehovah your God hath commanded you, Ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left" (Deut. 5:32). From the earliest ages, God's people have been plagued with the extremes of liberalism and legalism. The great challenge of every Christian and congregation is to maintain a balanced position between these two perversions of God's way.

What is Legalism? Legalism is an unwholesome attitude toward religion. It is a blind zeal for law with no thought for the spirit or intent of it. Paul was a minister of the "new covenant, not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (II Cor. 3:6). Legalists have a greater concern for rules than for people. When Jesus healed the poor invalid at Bethesda, the legalistic Jews showed no sympathy for the man. Rather, they persecuted Jesus because he broke their uninspired rules about Sabbath keeping in so doing (John 5:1-18). He reminded them that, "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath..." (Mark 2:27). Legalists worship the law more than the Law-giver. Traditions are gradually elevated to equality with God's law in the legalistic mind. A legalist is obsessed with details and numerous insignificant matters, while casually overlooking serious matters of major importance. Pharisees who were legalists, were scrupulous to tithe even their garden herbs; mint, anise, and cummin. Yet they had little interest in weightier matters of the law such as justice, mercy and faith (Matt. 23:23). They majored in minors while minoring in major things. With the legalist, there is always the disposition to make additional rules to reinforce what they perceive to be God's law. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were classic legalists. They bound heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and laid them on men's shoulders; but they themselves would "not move them with their fingers" (Matt. 23:4). James tells us that "One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and destroy" (4:12). When man sets himself up to criticize and judge his brother, he has ceased to be a doer of the law and is condemned.

What is Liberalism? It too is an mistaken attitude toward Christianity. The liberal has a low view of Scripture. More extreme liberals deny the miraculous element of the Bible. They question the full, complete inspiration of God's Word. Especially do thy reject the Bible as the final authority in religious matters. In liberalism there is always a willingness to place human wisdom above the revealed wisdom of God. Liberals feel that they can select the portions of the Bible which they choose to accept and follow. We are describing a frame of mind that does not feel obligated to do all that God says to do. We definitely have an element of liberalism in the Lord's church today. It is a movement away from doctrinal preaching. It substitutes subjectivism for objective Biblical authority. It shows a willingness to fellowship denominations. It compromises truth with error. It is unhappy with simple New Testament worship. This spirit has always found fertile ground in Christian Universities. The Sadducees of Christ's day were liberals.

The departure of our "non-institutional" brethren in the 50s did not end our problem with legalism. From then till now we have had a small but noisy band of "ultraconservative" brethren who have carried on a belligerent agitation against all who would not heel to their demands. Lacking a significant organ of communication and champions who commanded wide respect, they have not succeeded in forging their own independent fellowship, though for years many have tried to do so. Like a thorn in the foot, this legalistic element has imposed a decided limp on our brotherhood.

Today while we endure the legalism on the right, we are faced with a much greater threat from a wave of liberalism on the left. This assault is originating primarily from those associated with our Christian Universities and their protégés. Most of them are men with high educational credentials and a following among the young adults of our churches and schools. There are having marked success in many of our large city churches that have younger memberships. While few of these "liberal teachers" would openly question the miraculous events of the Bible, or the inspiration of the Word, by their words and deeds they demonstrate that they do not respect the authority of the Bible in regulating the faith and practice of the church. They are working to broaden our fellowship to include that of denominational bodies. They especially chaff at having to sing without instruments, choirs and soloists. They wish to move women into roles of public leadership. They think they have found a new way of interpreting the Bible that will allow them to do all of this and still claim to be New Testament Christians. If they cannot capture and lead our brotherhood into their liberal camp their future will be with the Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ who have long trodden the same path. Either of the ditches described herein will wreck and destroy a congregation. God's way is the Biblical way that stands between these two extremes. May God grant us wisdom to clearly see his way and the courage to walk therein. Only by so doing can Churches of Christ survive the current crisis.

JHW

More Bible lessons may be seen at www.christianity-then-and-now.com and www.firstcenturychristian.com

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 10, June, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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THE CHURCH IN TRANSITION

This book by James S. Woodroof was first published in 1990. It was a precursor of numerous books calling for changes to the faith, worship and practices of Churches of Christ. Bro. Woodroof is a diplomatic advocate of change; more subtle than most of his fellows.

The author provides a succinct portrait of the change agents and their churches. Note: "Often when a church or a movement reaches the point I believe we have reached, it suddenly becomes "pragmatically ecumenical." "Abandoning its convictions, it bands together with others who are suffering the same fate. Through organizational union they together hope to stay afloat by jointly dismantling their rudders. Thus crippled, they drift into uncertain waters" (p. 6).

The writer has warm words for three journals that have promoted his concept of unity: Leroy Garrett's Restoration Review, Carl Ketcherside's Mission Messenger and Victor Knowles' One Body (p. 17). This puts a clearer focus on Bro. W's dream for our churches. He cites as positive examples of folks seeking Christian unity, the Abilene Christian University Lectures... and the Kiamichi Clinic of the Christian Churches (p. 18). This clarifies where our brother finds his inspiration.

Bro. W. says, "We had no more right (maybe not as much, in view of Paul's statement) to preach only the last part of the good news than Billy Graham had to preach only the first part" (p. 33). First he should point out to us the preacher who has taught "only the last part of the good news." Having done that he needs to elaborate on Billy Graham having more right to preach "only the first part" of the good news. Does Bro. W. consider the man who preached salvation by faith alone more faithful to Christ's commission than the man who preached salvation by faith and baptism (Mark 16:16)? To Bro. Woodroof, Churches of Christ are a denomination. He says, "We don't like to hear criticism that would imply that we may be a denomination. But the time has come for Churches of Christ to redefine the term ‘denomination'..." (p. 167). He means we should accept our status as a denomination and not insist that we are the true church of Christ.

The writer tells us, "There is much uncertainty and mounting unrest among members of the Church of Christ today" (p. 44). Such is the case only among those primed and prepped by the agents of change. Most members of the church however, continue to hold to "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) and are happy and confident in their faith.

All change agents tend to say the same thing, use a common vocabulary and examples. This suggests that all have been to the same schools and seminars and read the same books and journals. It is safe to assume their materials are from denominational churchmen who know nothing of, nor care a whit for restoring New Testament Christianity.

The author acknowledges the things they wish to change "are things we can go to our graves practicing... Should we recognize that we too are a church in transition; there probably will be no massive revolution in our worship practices or in the general manner in which we believe religiously" (p.77). Following are some of the changes being widely promoted. Would they effect a "massive revolution" in your congregation?:

[] instrumental music in worship,
[] choirs and solos;
[] the Lord Supper as part of a pot luck meal;
[] hand clapping and applause in worship;
[] women teachers and preachers;
[] no more gospel preaching, rather story telling and drama;
[] accepting our status as a denomination;
[] fellowshipping denominational bodies,
[] allowing their preachers to fill our pulpits;
[] people "being saved" by confessing Christ and praying the sinner's prayer. If these changes would cause no alarm in your congregation, the change movement is already entrenched there.

He charges "We have divided over such matters as cups and kitchens, organs and orphans, race and ritual, pastors and personalities, contribution and cooperation and a host of other things" (p. 78) This does have a cute poetic ring but it is exaggerated and seeks to blame all with the sins of the few. How would Bro. W. respond if an element arose where he preaches, demanding that he not be paid for his work, or that they remove their fellowship facility or that they use only one cup in communion? Would he concede out of love, tolerance and a desire for unity? Would he try to teach them? If he saw them gaining ground among his members and threatening to overwhelm the leadership what would he do? If the mistaken brethren withdrew themselves and started a new congregation, would it be his fault?

He insists, "The more conservative church...must not condemn the church which (is)...more liberal" (p. 123). This is what his book is all about. He wants us to allow the change agents to do their work; to effect their changes without question or challenge. He derides "self-appointed defenders of the faith committed to..keeping the church pure" (p. 151). But change agents such as Bro. W. are self-appointed saviors of the church. They are warring against "legalism and traditionalism." If it is wrong for us, why is it right for them?

The Church in Transition helps us to know just what the author really believes about the Church of Christ, our faith, our practice and our people. It demonstrates the destination agents of change have in mind for us. It shows the seriousness of our problem. It also provides insight as to where much of the thinking of lesser men is derived.

JHW

** For an in depth review of The Church in Transition, check Book Reviews @ www.christianity-then-and-now.com
Church of Christ
12213 W. Bell Rd. Suite 211
Surprise, AZ 85374

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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WHO WILL DELIVER THE GOSPEL TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

Within 20 years large numbers of those who currently populate congregations of the Churches of Christ will have finished their course and bid this life farewell. A new generation will take our place on the planet. Without the gospel they will be lost. Only the faithful proclamation of the Word of Christ will bring them into a saving relationship with Christ (Rom. 1:16).

We became Christians because some faithful brother or sister taught us the unadulterated message of Christ. Faithful preachers instructed us in the basic principles of New Testament Christianity. Godly elders saw that we were fed a healthy diet of Biblical teaching; milk for babes and strong meat for adults in Christ (Heb. 5:12-14). Well-written tracts and gospel journals were made available to supplement the weekly instruction we were given.

Today things are changing. A movement is afoot among our people to implement changes in the faith, worship and practice of our churches. So drastic are the changes proposed, that if successfully implemented, they will corrupt virtually every aspect of the churches adopting them. Some of the change agents would discard the name Church of Christ, allow instrumental music along with their singing and adopt the use of choirs and solos. Some would change the way we commune and allow women in church leadership roles. All of them would change our relationship with our denominational neighbors. They would change the nature of the church from the one body of Christ to that of a denomination like the 1200 other churches men have founded. They would change the way we understand and make use of the Scriptures in the faith and life of the church. Congregations that adopt these broad and expansive changes cannot truly be called churches of Christ.

Looking ahead, we must ask:

[*] Will the Church of Christ, as we have known it, survive to bless future generations? Or will it have devolved into a lifeless body such as the Disciples of Christ/Christian Churches?

[*] Will there be Christian Schools faithfully educating and training the young people of that generation? Since the change virus has already invaded a number of our schools, this question is legitimate.

[*] Will there be an army of Christian soldiers, confident in their faith, who will go forth to boldly proclaim the glad message of salvation? Or will there be only the sad spectacle of professional hirelings who know not what they believe (John 10:12); who blush not to compromise the message to please the fickle crowds (Gal. 1:10); who want the crown without the cross of Christ?

[*] Will there be faithful men and women, nourished in sound doctrine, who will teach our grandchildren the truth of Christ's way of salvation; the importance of his holy church; the hope of immortality?

These are not vain or foolish questions. The grandchildren and great grandchildren of those digressives who went out from us a century ago (The Disciples of Christ) never heard or learned these truths. By their day apostasy had done its destructive work. It will do the same in our day if allowed to flourish in our midst.

I write these lines because my grandfather left the Methodist religion to embrace the primitive gospel. He taught his family. My mother followed his steps and passed that faith on to me, and I to my children, and they to theirs. But this cycle can easily be broken if one generation fails to hold fast to the faithful word (Tit. 1:9).

We began by asking, “Who will deliver the gospel to the next generation?” Those tempted to taste the sweet wine of the change agents should ponder this question. So should others who are content to follow to the gospel way, but see no need to be concerned about those who are busy promoting changes. So also should those who cannot bring themselves to stand up and challenge that which is obviously at odds with the message revealed in God's Word. The future of the church is at stake. Our response today will be a deciding factor in that future.

JHW

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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HELPERS WANTED AND NEEDED [TO RESIST THE EFFORTS OF “AGENTS OF CHANGE”]

This little paper is published to help fellow-Christians and churches of Christ understand the danger of and to successfully resist the efforts of those false teachers known as "agents of change". They are preachers and teachers who are unhappy with the church of Christ as she is and has been in days past. They are determined to change many aspects of her Bible based faith, worship and practice. To accomplish our mission we need the help of fellow Christians who love the church.

Currently we send the paper to ministers and elders of some 2000 congregations across the country. Every congregation in 27 states receives it plus hundreds more in other states. To accomplish our mission we need to expand the circulation of the paper to every congregation in the nation. That total left to be reached is thus about 7,500. It costs us .50 per month to print and mail two copies of the paper addressed to the minister/elders of a given Church of Christ. While few could provide for this entire number, several Christians working together could easily make it possible. By breaking the objective into smaller segments we can reach this goal. Consider the following:

--- Virginia has approximately 140 churches. For $70 per month we can mail them. N. Carolina has some 160 churches. For $80 per month we can mail all of them. S. Carolina has some 100 churches. For $50.00 we can mail them. We still lack some 880 congregations in Tennessee. To cover all would take $440 per month, but perhaps you could provide $50 and help us reach 100 of them. Louisiana has some 160 churches; $80 per month would allow us to mail each of them. Should you have an interest in a particular city, state or region we will work with you in mailing them.

--- We need to mail all of our congregations in English speaking countries such as Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, S. Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Historically liberal movements always make a run for the mission fields. There they know they can more easily capture young, immature churches, or those lacking strong leadership. The cost of reaching these nations is as follows: To mail to a congregation in Canada will cost .75 per month. To send to other nations will cost .95 per month.

--- We need to send the paper to all our missionaries in foreign fields. Many of them are products of the very schools from which the change doctrine emanates. Also the promoters of change are traveling the world sowing their seeds of error. We must provide some help to those who are exposed and vulnerable to the error.

--- We need to mail the paper to all preacher students and Bible majors in our Christian colleges, universities and schools of preaching.

--- We need friends who will underwrite the cost of providing special tracts and inserts for occasional mailings. We can include these for no extra cost of postage. The tracts chosen will deal with specific aspects of the change doctrine. Hopefully elders will be encouraged to then purchase copies for each family of their church. Normally these would cost approximately .30 each in quantities.

--- We need helpers who will provide copies of CTN to the families of their congregation. This can be done in one of two ways. You can take your copy and have it duplicated locally or you can provide the funds for us to send a bundle for your local distribution. We can mail a bundle for .20 per copy. By doing this you will be able to help prevent the change programs from taking root in your congregation.

--- We need Christians with solid faith to approach their preacher and elders encouraging them to consider placing CTN in their congregational budget or ordering a bundle for their members.

--- We need elders who see the need and are willing to help us in this effort to preserve the church from being corrupted by changes that are contrary to God's Word.

--- We need helpers who will assist us financially. There are several ways to do this. Send a contribution to help distribute the paper. Hopefully, this could be done on a regular monthly basis.

--- Helpers are needed to encourage others to join hands with them in so doing. Talk to your Bible class or service group about sending a regular contribution to help circulate the paper. Be creative, think of away you can raise some extra dollars and send them to help. You might be willing to be responsible for providing for the mailing of the paper to all congregations in your city, county or state.

--- We need helpers who will take it upon themselves to tell others about our CTN paper and website. Each issue of the paper is posted on our site which can be accessed at www.christianity-then-and-now.com, also all back issues and scores of additional articles are posted. These address every aspect of the change issue. Help us spread the word.

--- Each Saturday we send out an e-mail Bible lesson designed to strengthen the faith of brethren and help them resist the change agents. If you use the computer and have access to the Internet you can help us disseminate these vital lessons each week. When you receive the lesson, you would pass it on to all the Christians on your e-mail list. For more information about this aspect of our work, e-mail me at johnwaddey@aol.com.

--- We need fellow-Christians to lift up daily prayers for the Lord's church and for our efforts to protect her from those determined to do her harm by corrupting her faith, worship and practice.

--- We need strong, level headed Christians who have the faith and courage to approach their elders and preachers encouraging them to stand strong and to resist the pressures to go with the change movement.

--- Additional tools to help in this struggle will be announced as helpers and funds become available.

This is no personal promotion; it makes no profit for anyone; it is not a passing whim. The future of the churches of Christ is in serious jeopardy. Either her members stand and fight to protect her or she will be swept into the stagnant backwaters of denominationalism. Your help is needed. Can we count on you?

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 9, May, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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PREACHING CHRIST IN A DAY OF CRISIS

The church is under siege by those who would destroy her with their intended changes. Yet a certain type of preacher is content just to “preach Jesus.” They refuse to deal with any of the controversial issues, reasoning that if they just preach Christ, everything will be OK. While no one objects to preaching Christ (I Cor. 2:2), we must recognize that there is more to Christianity than Christ alone. One could preach a life-time about Christ (alone) and the church be swept away and destroyed by error, even as he spoke.

Christ is not under attack by the change agents, but certain aspects of his kingdom are. Not only will a good solider take his place on the walls of the city under siege, he will rush to the spot where the assault is mounted and do his part to drive the enemy away. The following aspects of the kingdom of Christ are under attack by those who style themselves “agents of change.” It is at these points that a faithful preacher will defend the Cause of his liege Lord.

--- The Bible is under assault. Many of the change agents question its inerrancy, its verbal inspiration and its authority. They deny it is a pattern for us to follow in our worship, in the organization and mission of the church, even though God says it is (II Tim. 1:13).

--- The Church of Christ is under attack. The promoters of change would turn her into a human denomination. They would move her into the ecumenical movement. They would corrupt her faith, her preaching, her worship and leadership. They attack and ridicule her and seek to make her irrelevant. They would capture and control her congregations for their own purposes.

--- The worship of Christ’s church is under siege. Change agents would corrupt her sacred singing by introducing instruments of music. They would defile her communion by mixing it with a common meal.

--- The government of the Lord’s church is under attack. Agents of change want to place women into leadership roles in the church. Some already have female preachers and teachers of men. They would have women lead in public worship of the church. They would take away the authority of elders, and some have already taken away the office of deacon. They would turn her into a democracy governed by the will of the people, rather than the monarchy of Christ (Matt. 28:20; Eph. 1:22).

--- Her plan of salvation and entrance into her membership is under siege.
Obedience to the commands of Christ is discounted while salvation by faith and grace before and without specific obedience to his instructions is promoted. They are saying the New Testament of Christ should not be viewed as a law to be obeyed, but a love letter from God to his children. They are denying that one must be immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins in order to be saved!

--- Her past is being denied. They deny she is the same church as that found the Book of Acts. The agents of change are busy rewriting our history to paint a different picture of the goals and intentions of our forefathers. They launched our back to the Bible movement with the stated goal of restoring original Christianity. Promoters of change wish to cast their efforts as a “unity movement.” They depict them as seeking fellowship with other denominational bodies rather than rejecting denominationalism. They made a determined effort to rid themselves of all the human doctrines and practices that had accrued over the centuries. The promoters of change scorn those of the last century who served the Lord and led his people to the success we now enjoy.

One could preach hundreds of beautiful, biblical lessons about Christ and never touch a single one of these critical issues. While dutifully “preaching Christ,” false teachers would make the Bible ineffective, reconstruct the church, corrupt her worship, mislead sinners about salvation and thus destroy the religion of Jesus. That approach which sounds so noble is seen to be a mistaken, misguided exercise in foolishness. To preach Christ alone is as foreign to Scripture and as misguided as to preach faith or grace alone. May every man who stands before God’s people shrink not from declaring anything that is profitable, and boldly preach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20; 27).

JHW

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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“THE CULTURAL CHURCH” (A Review)

Bro. F. LaGard Smith has rendered a most valuable service to us by writing his book, The Cultural Church. In it he examines the winds of change and the call for ‘a new hermeneutic' that we have come to know as the "change movement." In masterful and scholarly way he responds to the claims, assertions and accusations of the change agents at work among us. Of all the books I have read and reviewed, this one is by far the best overall evaluation of this false system.

Bro. Smith rightly identifies that real driving force behind many of those clamoring for change: "(T)here are also those who are trying to find in the Bible a rationalization for doing what the Bible simply does not allow" (p. 14). He speculates that the push for a new hermeneutic is self-serving, an attempt to evade those pesky Scriptures of Paul that prohibit women in church leadership roles. He "seeks to point out what may be unrecognized forces behind much of our current discontent–causes that promise, even in the immediate future, to affect all of us in the church." He demonstrates that much of the change agenda is closely related to the New Age movement.

The author devotes his attention to two fundamental aspects of the change movement: (1)." That the church is at great risk of becoming a cultural church, succumbing to a culture which...has radically changed the way it sees the world and even the way it thinks;" (2). "That the so called ‘new hermeneutic' is evidence of the fact that the change agents have already embraced the culture of the day."

Smith does us a favor by devoting several lines to defining and describing postmodernism which he labels as "unabashed relativism" (p. 96). The change movement is a subtle attempt to change our message and worship so they will be compatible with and acceptable to those in the church who have embraced the postmodern world-view.

Chapter three of the book "pays tribute to the so called ‘old hermeneutic'" for the way it has served us over the years. In chapter six he notes how the call for a new hermeneutic in order to justify things seemingly forbidden by Scripture is much like the called for "new morality" trumpeted a generation ago. Both have the same end in mind. The seventh chapter compares the thinking of the New Age movement with that of the culturally driven church. "It's about a radical shift from rational thought to intuitive, experiential perception..." (p. 21). Chapter eight reveals that other religious bodies are also struggling over hermeneutics, more proof that the change movement is a response to cultural pressures. Chapter nine answers and refutes the "popular charge that the ‘old hermeneutic' is a mathematics like scientific formula, modeled after the thinking of" John Locke, 17th century philosopher "and thus spiritually unworthy." This chapter is especially valuable. Chapter ten address the part of the new hermeneutic that would have us view all of Scripture as narrative. While some of the biographical and historical sections of Scripture are obviously narrative, change agents wish to reshape those portions that clearly contain doctrine which God expect us to believe and commands and prohibitions which he expects us to obey.

One by one the author addresses and defuses the many criticism raised against the church and her traditional method of interpreting Scripture and preaching, showing that the old methods not only are Biblical, but that change agents with their new hermeneutic and new methodologies really have nothing better to offer...and frequently that which they propose is worse because it sacrifices the God-given standard for those of contemporary culture. In chapter eleven, Smith endeavors to sharpen and focus the "old, traditional hermeneutic" of looking for command, example and necessary inference. He recommends that we look for "purpose, principle and precedent" when trying to ascertain the will of the Lord. This, too, is a valuable part of the book that will benefit all who pay attention to his reasoning. In chapter twelve he shows us how to make practical application of the "purpose, principle and precedent" approach to interpretation.

On page 178 he paints a vivid picture of how the drift into apostasy generally occurs. "Initially, you see just the first tiny steps away from the established norm, then gradually a series of incremental steps which end up miles away from where we used to be. At that point, of course, someone has to step in and make an attempt at justifying the change (perhaps even by calling for a whole new hermeneutic!)." He correctly observes that "the method of overturning biblical authority is ‘to acknowledge, but ignore,' or ‘to acknowledge, but sidestep.' And the cultural church is particularly adept at this process..." (p. 179).

He responds to the call that "We must have a Christ-centered hermeneutic" by noting, "Before Jesus can be our hermeneutic, he must first pass through our own personally-chosen tinted glasses. The problem is that we can take Jesus out of context with as much ease as we can take a verse out of context..." (p. 184). He reminds us "There are any number of concerns, especially about the work and worship of the church which Jesus himself never addressed, not even as a matter of principle" (p. 185). He reminds the change agents that "we know absolutely nothing about Christ that is not in scripture."

To those who are claiming that the Holy Spirit is explaining Scripture for them, he notes, "It's just too easy to let the Holy Spirit pass across our lips as a mantra to verify whatever it is that we want to do. When abused, appealing to the Holy Spirit can be the ultimate pseudo-spiritual self-justification" (p. 186). He stresses that "the Holy Spirit tells us nothing more that "that which is written" (p. 186).

Chapter 13 is a valuable study on the "Silence of the Scriptures." He helps to clarify and sharpen our thinking about this important part of our hermeneutic, by saying, "The point is that the effect of ‘silence,' whether in law or in Scripture, rests in the stated or clear purpose of the text. Before making an argument based on the silence of Scriptures, therefore, we must 1) first make sure that the particular passage addresses the particular question being asked, and 2) determine whether the passage intends its silence to be prohibitive of any other practice. He demonstrates that silence of the Scripture is a valid reason for our refusal to accept instrumental music in worship (pp. 197-203).

On page 209, Smith asks the pertinent question which all of those who are determined to introduce their changes should answer "are (we) breathing life into our worship to God, or merely following the crowd hoping to catch some of the excitement which faddishness tends to offer?"

In his closing lines he observes, "(O)ne of the most disturbing ironies about us is that today's ‘cultural church' (change church, jhw) prides itself in being more spiritual and holy, when (at least to my observation) it is the more traditional congregations–with all their so-called legalism–which appear to live more morally upright" ( p. 214). He well states, "it must be said that what marks the ‘cultural church' is not only culturally-influenced theology, but also culturally-influenced moral values and standards" (p. 214).

While there are two or three points with which I might take issue with Bro. Smith, over all this is the best thing I have seen or read on the broad agenda of the change agents. I would encourage every preacher and elder to read it and profit thereby. You will be much better prepared to face this problem when the change agents come knocking at your door. This book may be ordered from the Firm Foundation or Gospel Advocate bookstores.

John Waddey
Christianity Then and Now

For other reviews visit www.christianity-then-and-now.com

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 11, July, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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THE LAW OF CHRIST

Inspired writers refer to the New Testament as “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2); “the perfect law, the law of liberty” (Jas. 1:23) and a “law of faith” (Rom. 3:27). This being the case, how say the CHANGE AGENTS [emphasis] among us that we are not under a law of God? They love to say that we should not view the Bible as divine law. Are they so ignorant of the book they claim to teach? Do they not believe what the Scripture says of itself? Do they think they know more about God’s Book than the Holy Spirit who gave it? Could it be that in order to sell their agenda to a Bible-believing, Bible-oriented people, they must first convince them that the Scripture is not law, therefore it will be no great thing if its words are ignored?

If the Bible is not divine law, then no man is a sinner. For “where there is no law, neither is there transgression” (Rom. 4:15). If we have no divine law, how can some be called “lawless” in their conduct? (II Thess. 2:7; I Tim. 1:9). If the Scripture is not law, how could some men in the church be desirous of teaching “the law?” (I Tim. 1:7). If there is no law in Christ, we would have no knowledge of sin, or of right and wrong, “for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20). If the New Covenant is not God’s law, then no man need worry about being judged by it in the last day (John 12:48). If it is not law, then we can do anything we desire in the name of religion and not worry about having to give account unto God (II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12). If the Scripture is not law, then James and Paul were mistaken in calling it that. If that is so, how can we have confidence in other things they said? That would mean the New Covenant is not reliable and free from error, would it not? If God had wanted to tell us that his written word is His law to guide and govern us in matters of faith, practice and worship, what do our champions of change feel He should have said, beyond what he has said, to make it clear?

It is true that we are not under the Law of Moses (Heb. 8:6-13; Rom. 7:4). It is true that we are saved by God’s grace rather than by law-keeping (Eph. 2:8-9). It is a fact that our response to God must be one of faith rather than an attempt to earn salvation by works of law (Rom. 3:21-22). But it is a flagrant error to teach men that God’s Word should not be viewed as His law. This lesson our CHANGE AGENTS [emphasis] need to give heed to.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 11, July, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A MISSING INGREDIENT

As I assess the condition of our churches in this new millennium, I see a missing ingredient that has left us vulnerable to Satan’s wiles. We have lost the sense of brotherhood we once had. I am 65. I remember when all congregations in an area knew each other, supported each other’s efforts, cooperated in good works, and helped in planting new congregations. We rejoiced at the victories of others and mourned their losses. We had gospel papers that helped us keep in touch with each other. We thrilled to read of victories in distant fields and lifted up prayers when fellow-Christians were in need. Preachers we had never seen, we knew by name and by their articles. We felt free to call on them for advice and assistance. They were willing to give it. Back then people were not so much interested in where a man went to school, only if he were a faithful preacher of God’s Word. We honored men who were faithful proclaimers of the gospel and were proud to call them our brothers. Churches respected the membership of sister congregations and did not try to recruit them in order to increase their own number. We all loved the Church of Christ and were proud to be members of it. There was not nearly so much doubt and suspicion about each other. We loved our fellow-Christians like family and called them brother and sister. Sadly, this spirit of brotherhood has been neglected and largely disappeared over the last 30 years. To regain our strength as a people, we must work to rebuild and restore that sense of brotherhood (I Pet.4:17).

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 11, July, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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FOUNDED ON THE WORD, FOCUSED ON THE WORLD

The Church of Christ was founded on the Word...the living Word which came down from God, was born of Mary and crucified for our sins (John 1:1-3, 14). When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus blessed him and promised, “Upon this rock (the fact that I am the Son of the living God) I will build my church...” (Matt. 16:16-18). It is also founded upon the written Word that Jesus gave us. God gave Christ all authority in heaven and on earth. Those who become his disciples must be willing to observe all things whatsoever he commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). The only source of information about Christ’s will for us is his New Testament. So we are a Bible based church. We look to it as the divine pattern for our faith, worship and practice (II Tim. 1:13). We are careful not to go beyond the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11). His word sets boundaries beyond which we cannot go. We honor the Word of God; we study it, teach it and practice it.

Christ has given his church a mission. He expects us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Although we expend most of our energy in our local communities, teaching the lost and seeking to win them to the Master, our interest must ever be world-wide. As we grow, our outreach must reach further and further into the world of lost humanity. No neighborhood or nation is too remote, too primitive or too godless for us to ignore. God is the Creator of all humanity and he wants all to spend eternity with him in heaven. The church of Christ is his only soul-saving agency on this earth. Only when we understand the enormity of the responsibility he has bestowed upon us, will we get serious about preaching the gospel to every creature. May we never loose sight of our mission.

JHW

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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“MORE THAN A FEELING: WORSHIP THAT PLEASES GOD” (A Book You Should Read)

Bro. Jimmy Jividen has blest the church with yet another fine book that addresses the contemporary needs and problems confronting us. In thirteen concise chapters he analyzes every aspect of worship from a Biblical standpoint. He devotes a chapter to the question, "Is worship something the assembled church offers to God or is it what Christians do as they go about their daily activities?" In chapter five he gives us an excellent discussion of "Worship and Culture." Separate chapters are devoted to Worship in Praise and Prayer, in the Lord's Supper, in Giving and in Hearing God's Word. Each chapter is following by meaningful suggestions on how to improve the quality of our worship.

The last two chapters are very helpful. In them the author looks at the current tensions concerning the worship of the church. He notes the similarities of today's problems to those that beset our people a century ago. He clarifies the differences in expediencies and innovations in worship. Those who read Bro. Jividen's material will not have to guess what he means. They will not be wondering if there is some veiled message beneath the surface of his words. This book is a wonderful call for the simple and pure worship instituted by the Lord.

With all the pressures for unauthorized change, elders would provide a much needed service for their congregation if they would schedule a quarter of Bible studies for all their adult classes, using this book for a guide. It will enrich the congregation's worship. It will increase the individual disciples' understanding of how to worship God acceptably and motivate them to truly worship in spirit and in truth. Meaningful discussion questions accompany each chapter. Preachers will find in this book excellent materials for sermons on the various aspects of worship.

You may order this book from the Gospel Advocate, P. O. Box 150, Nashville, TN 37202.

JHW

BEFORE YOU INVEST IN A NEW THING, CHECK IT OUT


Folk-wisdom is a wonderful thing. Without the advantages of higher education, our forefathers learned valuable lessons of life and encoded them in wise sayings. "Don't buy a pig in a poke," i.e. don't make a purchase without first inspecting the item. There is a certain risk in ordering merchandise from a catalog. The actual product is often not the quality that the picture implies.

Those progressive-minded elders, preachers and members, who are taken with the proposals for change being promoted by some of our university scholars, really need to check out the actual product before they buy the package. What sounds exciting in a religious journal or a book may appear quite different in a real life setting. They owe it to themselves and the church to visit a Disciples of Christ Church. There was a time (125 yrs. ago) when these folks were one with us in faith and practice. They chose the road now being promoted in a flurry of books being produced and circulated by faculty members of some of our Christian Universities. To see the end results of the "drive to introduce change" in our brotherhood, "go and see." Then you can make an informed decision whether or not to proceed.

* In a Disciples Church you can see the "new hermeneutic" at work. Their seminaries have been instilling in their students this approach to the Bible for a full century. One's approach to the Bible plays out in the faith and practice of the congregation.
* You can see the kind of music the agents of change will bring into your worship assemblies. When the question of instrumental music in worship is no longer a "faith or salvation issue," you get not only the pipe-organ, the piano and the chorus, but the rock band as well.
* There you can see first hand what the talk about "freeing our women to serve God" is really all about. They have women preachers and elders.
* You can see how replacing the search for Bible authority on questions of faith, practice and morals with the "story telling" approach can lead to gay membership and ordination.
* You can see for yourself the real meaning of, "we are Christians only, but not the only Christians." There you will find participation in the Billy Graham type of crusades, membership in the ministerial alliance, acceptance of the unimmersed as fellow-Christians and membership in the World Council of Churches.
* You can see how "we can do anything the Bible does not forbid" plays out in the practice of a church. First they rejected the idea of "the law of silence" that says we can only do what the Scripture authorizes us to do. They then abandoned "book chapter and verse" Bible preaching. They now have no trouble embracing things clearly forbidden and condemned by Scripture.
* You will see the fruit of theological liberalism in the life and teaching of a church. Many of their theologians and preachers blush not to lay their sinful hands on the sacred text of the Bible and question if it is even legitimate.
* You can see a full blown denomination. With its national governing body, headquarters, presiding officers. They now proudly acknowledge that they are truly a denomination.
* You can see the kind of preachers it genders; reverend pastors whose preaching has been reduced to the level of cold water
* You can see a dying church. For half a century the Disciples have been declining in membership. Standards have been lowered to the bottom notch, entertainment has replaced worship. Every new social fad of liberalism has been embraced, still they are dying.

Please, Christian leader, before you buy the "change" package being promoted among us, make the visit; check it out. Is this where you really want to go? Once you invite the change-makers in, the likelihood of restoring the Biblical faith and practice of the past is almost nil. John Waddey

More lessons can be found @ http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH: Reclaiming the Ideal (A Review)


This book was written by Dr. Carroll Osburn of Abilene Christian University and comes highly recommended by many denominational scholars. Most members of churches of Christ however will find it both shocking and disturbing. It could better be subtitled, "Adjusting the Faith to Conform with Changing Culture!"

The author labors to convince his academic peers and his readers that he is a scholar worthy of their consideration. Given the heavy reliance on theologian jargon and his opaque style we need not worry much about the average person being misled by this book. But for those already inclined toward liberalism and feminism, it will provide justification for their rejection of clear Bible prohibitions against women in public leadership roles in the church. One gets the impression it is written to break down apparent obstacles for feminists who are clamoring for leadership roles in our churches.

This is a book filled with theo-babble that none but scholars will appreciate. The author is impressed with the educational attainments of his sources; the high positions they occupy in the world of academia; especially those outside the fellowship of churches of Christ. He, by his style, implies that only scholars like himself can correctly know God's will. Of course in this he is dead wrong! What folks did do for the 2000 years before our scholars of change appeared?

The book demonstrates the author's sympathy toward Feminism and his hostility toward Patriarchalism. Osburn's view of the traditional position held by members of the church is reflected throughout the book. He says, "The centuries old model of male dominancy has received an overdue challenge...many fundamentalist Christians distort biblical texts in an effort to preserve their view. In vain attempts to defend and preserve their unworthy perspective which inherently dehumanizes both male and female" (p. viii-ix). He believes that, "Often in patriarchalism, leadership and submission are actually domination, subjection and manipulation couched deceptively in language that tends to female degradation" (p. 47). Along with the feminists he picks extreme, perverted cases of patriarchalism, not representative of the average Christian man of our day, and then prosecutes and convicts his straw man. He says that LaGard Smith "assumes that ‘male spiritual leadership' was ordained by God from creation" (p. 42). It is clear that Osburn does not agree with Paul's affirmation that such is the case (Eph. 5:22-23). He assures us, "Patriarchalism is an unfortunate result of the Fall, not something designed by God' (p. 124). Lumping patriarchalists and radical feminists together, he says, "Both of these extreme views are steeped in prejudice, both are essentially isolationist, and both are influenced tremendously by cultural bias" (p. 253).

The author says, "For men whose gender identity and social domination were at stake due to these major upheavals that threatened patriarchalism, religion was seen as a useful tool...men now held that women were not to exercise authority...Texts such as I Cor. 14:34-35 and I Tim. 2:11-15 were stressed to forbid women teaching and preaching in the presence of men" (p. 8-9). Notice that he writes as though these passages did not previously exist or have meaning until men were confronted by the demands of feminists. We ask him was Paul's gender identity and social domination at stake when he wrote these words, which by the way, he insisted were "the commandment of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37)?

He purposely confounds Fundamentalists of the denominational world with gospel preachers who do not subscribe to his liberal agenda (p. 12-13). He well knows that the average preacher in the church does not go about his interpretation and application of the Word as do Fundamentalists. He proceeds, "However, fundamentalists have ignored the obvious ways in which their own agenda is culturally biased. They also are guilty of reading their conclusions into their presuppositions" (p. 18). Does Bro. O. think that only change agents are exempt from cultural influences?

His assessment of churches of Christ is one of disdain:"Under the guise of biblical mandate, biblical proof- texts continue to undergird the protection of ‘male turf' in churches, especially regarding ‘leading'-everything from eldership and preaching to praying, reading Scripture in public, and even passing out communion trays and church bulletins. Such fundamentalist views on women in the church are primarily the result of reaction against cultural changes and only secondarily the result of biblical proof-texting. This, basically, is our legacy" (p. 17). Readers should note that within change movement no folly is so great, nor sin so egregious as "proof-texting," i.e., proving a thing right or wrong by citing Scripture on the subject. He tells us "There is major disagreement on whether one should use the Bible to undergird doctrines in a "proof-texting way, or whether one should allow doctrine to emerge from understand texts in their literary and historical contexts. Certainly these differing views of Scripture lie behind differing views of women in the church" (p. 90). He should clarify that those objecting to proving matters by clearly stated scripture are denominationalists and his fellow-change agents.

He inadvertently gives us an insight into the methodology of determined feminists. We do well to heed this warning for it is also the strategy of the promoters of change: "Feminist hermeneutics stands over against patriarchal hermeneutics" its goal achieved "by small, often unnoticed acts of subversion. Numerous such incremental changes, like erosion, will eventually bring down the fortress " (emphasis mine jhw) ( p. 32).

Osburn writes, "Much of what is held as ‘truth' by patriarchalists seems actually to be nothing more than cultural bias" (p. 43). "In spite of extensive appeal to Scripture, the patriarchal view of women is essential rooted in culture..." (p. 44). In this statement he reveals his attitude toward Scripture. The fact that the Bible says something proves nothing in his mind! Being an academic scholar trumps anything Scripture may say!

Note how Bro. O. views Scripture:"The Bible is not so much a ‘heaven-sent answer book' as a historical book produced within and for a historical community-- yet it serves as Scripture today because people find themselves accountable to it. That is what make its Scripture" (p. 46). This is one of the most damning statements in his book for it reveals much about his low view of the inspiration of God's Word. God's Word is Scripture whether any man, society or culture understand they are accountable to it. The following quote is no less incriminating. "...but another step must be taken if the text would actually become Scripture and that is to engage the text in dialogue to ask, ‘Now that I understand the meaning of this text for today, can I accept this" (p. 47). He says, "Paul's arguments carried weight in his day even though they may not necessarily be convincing by today's standards" (p. 135). In a foot note on p. 90, Osburn notes "Significant differences exist among evangelical regarding the inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, and authority of Scripture". It would be enlightening to know just where Bro. Osburn stands on such matters. He quotes David Wright with approval, We must "work out what it means to be faithful at one and the same time both to the doctrinal approach to Scripture as the Word of God and to the historical treatments of Scripture as the words of men" (Emphasis mine, jhw) (p. 108). This helps us understand why he can reach the conclusions he does.

It seems not to occur to Osburn and other liberals that the Bible has shaped culture respecting the role of women in home and church. Prior to our post-Christian age the majority of people were responsive to the Bible's standards. Today, many in the ‘Christian' world, including change agents are far more influenced by the world (culture) than by Scripture.

He quotes with approval Margaret Bendroth, "Evangelicals...yearning for social relevance" (p. 91). This well-describes our change agents and Bro. Osburn who appear eager to embrace the changing culture of secular America. With a heavy hand he twists and interpret Scripture to say and mean the opposite of what the words actually say.

He tells us, "There is no indication in the New Testament itself that the term "deacon' ever meant anything more than "designated servants' whether male or female" (p. 140). "It is certain that ‘whatever the deacons were at Philippi, that Phoebe was at Cenchrea" (p. 144). "Rather than viewing deacons in I Tim. 3:8, 11, as officers, it is best to view these men and women simply as designed servants" (p. 147). If Paul's list of qualifications had no reference to an office to be filled, then the same would be true of elders whose qualifications are mentioned in the same text!

The author's position: He says, "Paul's corrective does not ban women from speaking in worship" ( I Cor. 14:33-34). (p. 204). "As far as teaching is concerned, it was acceptable for an informed woman to teach a man" (p. 154). He does not distinguish between public and private teaching in and out of the assembly. "I might add that the text says nothing about women singing, praying, making announcements, reading scriptures, witnessing, reporting, asking questions, teaching, performing drama in a Christian assembly, -whether standing or sitting, whether in front or not,- as long as they do so in an orderly and non-disruptive manner..." (p. 205). "Neither in this nor in any other biblical text is there a prohibition against women speaking in public, on the ground that it is public" (p. 205 ft. note). He labors hard to convince us that the two verses prohibiting women from teaching and preaching do not mean what they say. Note he chooses to render I Tim. 2:12, "I am not permitting a woman to teach domineeringly" ( p. 248), which implies that she can teach just so she is not domineering.

He concedes: "Jesus did not overthrow hierarchalism" (p. 260). "Even then, one must remember that an explicit doctrine of women does not occur in Scripture nor does Jesus attempt to provide such a doctrine" (p. 129). He concedes "women were not included among the twelve...." "The only reason for selecting an all-male group of twelve was emphasis upon maintaining God-given role distinctions regarding leadership." "...their roles were different from the roles of women who followed Christ or were served by him." "Therefore, while Jesus treated women as equal with men and maintained their dignity and worth, the pattern of male leadership in the early church continued the role distinction between men and women; a leadership role for men..." (House, The Role of Women in Ministry Today, quoted by Osburn, p. 127).

He quotes Kevin Giles who correctly argues that, until recent times, commentators agreed that "Paul forbids women in general from doing two things, teaching in the church and having authority over men" (p. 233). Giles correctly assesses the change agents, saying they "are themselves practicioners of a ‘progressive hermeneutic,' ‘Cartesians,' who read the Bible in the light of the present situation–the very thing they accuse their evangelical opponents of doing" (231). He reminds us that, "over the centuries most writers have argued that in I Tim. 2:11, Paul demands total silence by women in the church....Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Cyril of Jerusalem, Chrysostom, Jerome and Aquinas, Luther and Calvin argued from this text that women are to keep silent in worship..."(p. 233)

Osburn makes remarkable assumptions: "It is evident in I Tim 2:8-15 that some women were teaching in the public assembly of the church in Ephesus or Paul would not have forbidden it." (p. 235). We have long known that the weakest of all arguments is one based on silence, that an unknown situation. Again he says, "The opening section of the body of the epistle (I Tim. 2:1-8), demands cessation of an exclusivist mentality on the part of the male..." (p. 239). He boldly states, "To say that ‘the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the church' is not to stress the husband's authority or position, but his service..." (p. 259). Would he therefore say that Christ being head of the church only means he can love and serve the church? Can He lead and guide the church, express his will for the church, set standards for the church expect his church to follow his leadership? Such assumptions!

The Conclusion of the Matter: He assures us, "...nothing is said in this text (I Tim. 2:11-15), abut informed reliable and gentle women teaching–either in the church or out, either on religion or not, either to men or women.." (p. 252). He further adds: "My studies lead me to conclude that there is no biblical mandate for hierarchalism in either the church or society. Hierarchalism is a legacy from remote antiquity, originating in the post-Fall ear of Gen. 3. It was not designed by God, but was the result of human frailty" (p. 260). He assures us that every passage that in any way teaches that man was given headship and woman was to fill a supportive role does not mean what it obviously says. In this he defies the wisdom and power of God.

I think it safe to assume that Bro. Osburn grew up in a home, attended a church and a college where folks held what he sneeringly calls the hierarchal or patriarchal view. I suspect he himself held such a view in his early years. Now he has graduated and abandoned his spiritual roots for the view of Pentecostals and liberal Protestants. Still he prefers to stay among us although he sees us as steeped in prejudice, essentially isolationist and culturally biased! This book is a classic demonstration of the new hermeneutic at work. Worldly scholars use this method to convince the weak and untaught that the Bible doesn't mean what it says. The book indicts the author and the school that continues to provide him a forum to spread his anti-scriptural beliefs. JHW

When God pours out his WRATH in Hebrew He turns such DOCTORS OF THE LAW into "Buffoons." Their speech is defined by a word which means SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

We have looked up references to John's earlier reviews and by what I can glean from the internet without sinning by bying the books. Specificially Carrol D. Osburn seems to agree with Fred Peatross, The Emerging Church of Christ, which can be found in WITCHCRAFT WEB PAGES. He notes that it is the goal of ACU:

.."If we are to have a truly significant impact upon the national and international scene,
....."faculties of RELIGION must play leading PROPHETIC roles in CHANNELING and facilitating whatever changes loom ahead.

But Jesus did not FOUND a religion but an ekklesia. This is the SYNAGOGUE and the ASSEMBLY passages the Doctors of the Law cannot find describe it as a SYNAGOGUE or school of the Bible. Even the Lord's Supper now turned into a catholic form of magic was to SHOW FORTH or preach the death of Christ.

Carrol continues on: p. 14-15 An outdated curriculum from a SECTARIAN past that placed emphasis upon transmitting doctrinaire positions will not suffice if we would engage convincingly the LARGER ARENAS of current religious thought.

......Our graduate programs must train students how to THINK, to investigate the biblical text afresh, to FEEL the PULSE of the world around them, to sense where things OUGHT to GO, and provide the kind of experiences that will enable servants to go out into churches and communities and provide DIRECTION.

Rubel Shelly and John York TELL the same "questions" about whether Paul was HOMOPHOBIC and CULTURALLY deprived when he wrote about women. Like Osburn, they have NEW SPECTACLES for a NEW VISION OF THE CHURCH. They can say with a STRAIGHT face that there is NO COMMAND against homosexuality! Osburn is assuredly NOT reading any of the versions I know about and all of this band of merry men seem to be hallucinating. GOD DID PROMISE TO SEND STRONG DELUSIONS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE THE WORD. Below is the bit on homosexuals and women to prove that they CANNOT seem to bring themselves to quote either the Bible or "scholarship."

http://www.piney.com/Shelly-Women-Homosexual.html

They also included the NARRATIVE THEOLOGY and claimed that those who WORKED OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION were team mates with GOD defining doctrine for THEIR CULTURE. Since culture changes (profound!) WE must work out our own SCRIPTURE for our times.

These people are truly just making fools of themselves but to paraphrase Paul "fools love to be fooled."

http://www.piney.com/Shelly-York-Narrative.html

Paul leaves no doubt in Hebrews 6 that to have once tasted the Word of God and then rejected it is an UNFORGIVABLE SIN. Then, I suppose, they qualify only to be Doctors of the Law whom Jesus warned "take away the key to knowledge." And they EXTORT money out of you to teach you lies.

Ken Sublett

John if you attended the FLAT EARTH SOCIETY meeting where they read their papers they would get a huge applause. However, if one DARED to say that two people had flown around the earth in a small plane nonstop and arrived at their starting place, he would be DRUMMED OUT of the flat society.

In the same way, if a PROFESSOR of Phrenology lost his faith in bumps he KNOWS that he will never get a professorship at UOP (University of phrenology.) That's what's taking place: TRAFFICK.

Here is what those claiming PROPHETIC and CHANNELING skills have to worry about.

The NEW BUT ANCIENT proof that people are prophets speaking new truth always turn to MUSIC to prove that the message is inspired. The THRILL is drug induced by charismatic preaching and music. The musical prophesier is the WORLDS OLDEST PROFESSION:

...."Many peoples attributed any violent or unusual emotion to one of the gods as a matter of course; the individual was then no longer held responsible for his actions, though the gods were sometimes mischievous or even malevolent and the result might be catastrophic." (H. Bamford Parkes, Of God and Men, p. 33).

"The flash of insight that enabled an individual to achieve an original act of CREATION, whether in ART or in technology, was always mysterious, and for early mankind it could be due only to the intervention of a god. Long after the advent of civilization,
....in fact, POETS continued to believe that they wrote from DIVINE DICTATION; inventors attributed their discoveries to divine aid." (Parkes, p. 34).

This is why God's Revelation had to be RATIONAL and readily accepted when read. Unless the modern "prophet" can resurrect himself from the dead and perform miracles then he/she falls into the SECT of the "prophesiers" of whom Jesus will say, "I don't even know your name."

"in Primitive religion any VIOLENT or ABNORMAL emotional state was attributed to the gods and regarded as mystical.
...."Both in the BIBLE and in HOMER there are examples of MISLEADING and catastrophic inspiritation. When Jehovah wished King Ahab to be killed in battle, he put a 'lying spirit' in the mouths of his prophets in order that they might encourage the king to go to war (I Kings, xxii, 22)." (Parkes, p. 33)

..."What primitive men... wanted from the gods was health and strength, RICHES and long life, and they hoped to attain these things chiefly by RITUAL and sacrifice rather than by GOOD CONDUCT. The methods of early religion always remained largely MAGICAL, and its motivations thoroughly materialistic." (Parkes, p. 36).

An article in Britannica notes that there was little difference between PRIEST and MAGICIAN. That is why God TURNED ISRAEL OVER to worship the Starry Hosts and laded the nation with a human priesthood: they rose up into MUSICAL PLAY which was repeating the ancient superstitious religion.

History knows that RITUALISTIC MUSIC and charismatic FEELINGS are a DRUG HIGH. However, those who turned away from the Word of God were sent STRONG DELUSIONS. Therefore, the NEW STYLE WORSHIP is derived from WITCHCRAFT and the FALSE PROPHETS are frightened out of their wits and are looking for materialistic SIGNS to make them FEEL spiritual: "Ritual, Sex and Rock and Roll." The worship of NEWNESS, Faith and Grace tries to convince those WHO HAVE NOT FALLEN that the CHURCH GROWTH CULT "procured" by music and charismatic worship and a $90,000.oo "worship minister" that this LEGALISTICALLY proves that they are NOT YET FALLEN from Grace.

.."In this fashion every common TRIBAL interest—the recurrence of the seasons, the increase of the food supply, successful hunting—was likely to become embodied
....in some regularly repeated ceremony, which usually included group dancing, SINGING, and feasting.

"Besides enabling men to express, and thereby to ALLAY, ANGER and ANXIETY, such ceremonies also promoted TRIBAL (Commune) UNITY and strengthened the loyalty of the individual to tribal traditions,
..for the emotional excitement they aroused had the effect of breaking down the BARRIERS between individuals (Hitler agreed)
....and thus fusing all tribesmen into a collective WHOLE. Meanwhile, whole systems of MAGICAL devices were gradually elaborated." (Parkes, p. 29)

'Certain members of a tribe, MARKED out either by unusual skills or by some EMOTIONAL ABNORMALITY, usually became particularly adept at these operations, and gradually assumed SPECIALIZED functions. RELEASED from the duty of hunting, and concentrating on the PRACTICE of MAGIC, the SHAMAN, SORCERER, or medicine man was the world's first professional." (Parkes, p. 29).

Of sOPHISts are the SERPENTS in Revelation because they are both ATTRACTIVE and REPULSIVE and 'you cannot take your eyes off them." They would "preach" in any one's pulpit if the price was right:

...."Perhaps PROFESSOR would be a rough modern equivalent to SOPHIST. It has a similar range from Professors of Greek to Professors of Phrenology and although some Professors research, all teach, and all are paid which was a great reproach to the Sophists. Some of them were serious philosophers, educators or scholars; others only cheap-jacks, who professed to teach only the sublime art of GETTING ON. Did you want to improve your memory: Did you want to be a £1,000-a-year man? Some Sophist would teach you--for a fee. Sophists went from city to city, lecturing on their particular subject, some indeed undertaking to lecture on ANY subject, but always for a fee. (Kitto, The Greeks, p. 168).

.."You might hear many poor WRETCHES of SOPHISTS, shouting and abusing each other, and their disciples, as they call them, squabbling; and many WRITERS OF BOOKS reading their STUPID COMPOSITIONS, and many poets singing their poems, and many jugglers (BUFFOONS) exhibiting their marvels, and many SOOTHSAYERS giving the meaning of prodigies, and then a thousand RHETORICIANS twisting lawsuits, and no small number of TRADERS driving their several trades.
...."The Greeks were intoxicated with fine words; and to them the CHRISTIAN PREACHER with his blunt message seemed a crude and uncultured figure, to be laughed at and ridiculed rather than to be listened to and respected. (Barclay, William, First Corinthians, p. 19-20)

The PERFORMERS who cared nothing for the REVEALED TRUTH were identified as "rhetoricians, sOPHISts (serpents in revelation), singers, flute-girls (prostitutes), musicians or craftsmen were further identified as SORCERERS and belonged to the SECT of the Hypocrites. They all pretended authority from religious rituals and were known as PARASITES.

In the Hebrew and Greek world, and if you were NOT a prophet of God, the other choice was MUSICAL PROPHESYING: this was singing and playing instruments as flute-girl meant PROSTITUTE and male performers were Sodomites. If they sold you a NEW form of religion which opposed Christ they had to become outrageous because Paul claimed in effect that "fools love to be fooled" and there are more Baptist book buyers than church of Christ buyers.

Ken Sublett

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 11, July, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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PUT THE BIBLE BACK IN THE BIBLE SCHOOL

The church exists to preach the gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:15). By definition the Bible School is a learning environment where people study the Word of God. A visit to some of the liberal Protestant churches in your neighborhood would reveal that there can be a Bible School which does not teach God’s Book. But a closer look would also reveal that they are dying churches with dwindling attendance and an uncommitted membership. Lest we be proud, we should take a long hard look at our classes. More often than we wish to admit, a child can attend our Bible classes for years and still be virtually illiterate in Scripture knowledge. Some of our current problems are the result of a weak Bible School program. The reasons are many but some causes are:

[] Untrained teachers who know not how or what to teach;

[] Unprepared teachers who fail in their duty to their pupils;

[] Poor literature and teaching aids which have little Biblical content and/or poorly present God’s Truth;

[] A Bible school program in disarray and confusion;

[] Unmotivated students, who come to class unprepared and manifest no interest in learning;

[] Uncaring parents who make no effort to help their kids learn at home or be prepared for their Bible Classes;

[] Irregular attendance with frequent absentees and tardies.

This problem is usually reflected in ill-kept classrooms, literature not available on time, teachers not present when class assembles and no discipline in the classroom. Such a situation is a recipe for an educational disaster. As overseers of the church who bear responsibility for the souls of the flock, elders must see that such a scenario never occurs in their congregation (Heb. 13:17). If it has already happened, elders should post an “all hands on deck” alert and take all necessary action to rectify the situation.

[] Make an immediate inspection to determine the extent of your problem.

[] Reshuffle your workers to see that competent people are put in charge of repairing the damage done.

[] Examine and evaluate your literature, if it is from a denominational publisher, or weak in Bible content, retire it and find new materials that will truly teach students the Word of the Lord.

[] Meet with your teachers. Let them know that you expect their best efforts if they are to teach.

[] Attend the various classes and observe what is being taught and how effectively it is being done. Don’t hesitate to give specific suggestions to your teachers for improving their work.

[] Speak to the students. Tell them the value of their class, urge them to be good students.

[] Mount the pulpit and tell the flock how important Bible School is and their need to be actively involved in it.

[] Have your preacher deliver meaningful lessons on the value of Bible Study, the privilege and duty of teaching, the need for faithful attendance at Bible Class.

[] Plan a program and have a drive for increasing Bible School attendance and enrollment. Set some challenging goals.

[] Pray for God’s help and guidance in safely leading your flock from here to eternity; that your charge will truly grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet 3:18).

[] Insist that everyone involved in your Bible School program exalt God’s Word! Have each student bring his Bible, then study it, memorize it, learn its practical lessons and how to live them. Make it clear that Bible Class hour is not for play, or entertainment, not for babysitting, but for learning!

Change agents will find it hard to seduce a well taught congregation! Let this be the year when we put the Bible back into the Bible School!

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 11, July, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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WHEN THE WALLS COME DOWN

We all know the story of ancient Jericho, how the strong walls of that fortified city crumbled and fell before the children of Israel (Josh. 6:20-21). Those walls were brought down by God. Today we are witnessing other walls crumbling and falling, the result of the preaching, writing and teaching of certain brethren who fancy themselves sufficiently wise to change the faith, worship and practice of the Lord’s church.

I. The ancient wall between the Lord’s one true church and the hundreds of man-made denominational churches is crumbling and already down in many places. The Book of God makes it crystal clear that Christ has only one church (Eph. 4:4-5; 1:22). It also plainly condemns divisions and contending religious factions (I Cor. 1:10-15; 3:1-4). For 200 years our brethren have preached and called men into the church founded by Christ and opposed denominationalism as contrary to God’s will. Today a new breed of preachers and professors blush not to say that we ourselves are but another denomination and that other denominations are equally acceptable to Christ. With all their vaunted learning, they are unable to see the distinction between the real and the counterfeit (Lev. 10:10).

II. The wall between truth and error is crumbling before the false teaching of relativism and subjectivism that is emanating from several of our universities. The fact is God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). We have that on the highest authority; Jesus! It is objective truth, neither relative nor subjective. It is a solid, reliable standard that exists separate and apart from man, churches, schools of thought and educational institutions. “The word of Jehovah is right” (Ps. 33:4). It is “perfect” (Ps. 19:7). It is “settled in heaven” (Ps. 119:89). It will “never pass away” (Matt. 24:35). It is God-given (II Pet. 1:20-21). It will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). If every last believer in Christ with all their schools, books and papers perished, the Word of God would still stand, true and dependable. If all the world of Christendom embraces skepticism and denigrates and denies the Word, it will still stand and judge them in the last day! For 200 years our brethren have believed and taught this fundamental truth. Today our “agents of change” are hammering away at this wall.

III. The wall between God-ordained worship and “will-worship” based on emotion and popular opinion is crumbling. The worship God expects of us must be “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). It is sincere and heart felt and it is as he has ordered in his divine Revelation. His worship is simple and unadorned without pomp and pageantry. It needs no cathedral or vast throng to validate it. True worship, of necessity, is based is based squarely on the New Covenant of Christ (Matt. 28:20). We cannot look to Moses or David for our authority (Matt.17:4-8). We dare not look to uninspired teachers and theologians of the denominational world! The most notable changes proposed by our “change agents” are in the realm of public worship of the church. They want acceptance of instrumental music, choirs and solos. They want women allowed a leadership role. They want drama and skits. They want emotionalism and excitement. Paul calls such “will-worship” (Col. 2:23).

IV. The wall between Bible preaching and emotion-driven entertainment and story telling is crumbling. For 200 years our preachers operated under the mandate of Christ to “preach the gospel” (Mk. 16:15). They felt obliged to “speak as the oracle of God” (I Pet. 4:11), and to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Faithful elders knew that it was through the “foolishness of the preaching” that God ordained to save men (I Cor. 1:21). Today, many young preachers, groomed and trained in “Christian” universities, much prefer “story-telling” and emotional hoopla to Bible preaching. The wall is already down in some quarters.

V. The wall between the Biblical plan of salvation and human ideas about how to be saved is breached. From the beginning of our back to the Bible movement, our brethren have understood and preached salvation as a free gift of God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9) that required faith (Heb. 11:6) repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38) on the part of those wishing to received that salvation. Now a new kind of preacher moves among us telling the lost that salvation is by grace alone or by faith alone and thus denying the message of the author of eternal salvation (Heb. 5:8-9). Bro. Rubel Shelly says, “My salvation is on grace alone, Not by anything I’ve added to it.” “The one step of salvation is faith...” “It (baptism) is not the fifth step (in the plan of salvation).” (Quotes from Shelly’s recorded sermons, cited in Change Agents and Churches of Christ by William Woodson, p. 36).

VI. The wall between heaven ordained male leadership for the church and the human doctrine of female leadership is pierced. God’s position is clear: “as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the church: for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but let them be in subjection (I Cor. 14:33-34). Although churches of men have long ignored heaven’s decree, our brethren have honored it; that is, until the “change movement” emerged among us. Now we have teachers and professors preferring the authority of the feminist leaders over Christ and agitating for women to serve in church leadership roles. The elders of the Church of Christ in West Islip, NY have proudly published the fact that Katie Hays serves their congregation “as a minister in the fullest sense of that calling...This includes preaching from the pulpit” (Christian Chronicle on line, September, 2002)! Having gone beyond the doctrine of Christ, they have not God (II John 9).

VII. The wall between a verbally inspired and inerrant Bible and a fallible, human document, uncertain in origin, unreliable in content and impotent in authority has been broken. For two centuries our brethren have observed this flagrant unbelief among our denomination neighbors. Many of those who abandoned the Old Paths last century for instruments of music and missionary societies eventually embraced this low view of Scripture. But our men stood strong, until recently. From the classrooms of our universities a trickle of unbelief in the inerrancy and authority of God’s Word has grown to dangerous proportions. In days past our preachers and teachers encountered this skepticism only when they enrolled in denominational seminaries or secular schools off higher learning. Now our sons come face to face with it in some of our schools.

It was an act of God, for the benefit of his people when Jericho’s walls came down. It is an act of Satan for the harm of the church when the walls mentioned above are breached.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 12, August, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A PLEA TO ADMINISTRATORS AND TRUSTEES OF OUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

Churches of Christ across America are experiencing conflict and turmoil because of a flood of unscriptural changes that are being promoted to the point of division. The well-spring of this "progressive" change teaching can be traced to several of our Christian Universities. Faculty members are issuing a stream of books promoting change and students are being filled with their new ideas about the faith and worship of the church. Students then come home and sow the seeds of change in their home congregations. Young preachers are being educated and sent forth who do not understand or appreciate the concept of restoring the original faith and practice of the church. This article is an appeal to those responsible for the direction of those schools associated with us.

[] As a matter of integrity, consider and respect the intents and purposes of your founders. Not a single one of our schools was started by brethren who believed that one could be saved before his baptism. Not one of them believed that instrumental music was acceptable in Christian worship. Not one of them believed that women could fill leadership roles in the church. None of them thought the church of Christ was a denomination. They sacrificed to establish and build up your school in order to advance the cause of Christ, to provide an educational setting so that young Christians could be trained in an environment that would sustain and strengthen their faith, not undermine it.

[] Love, honor and respect the church which you exist to serve. Your school was not founded nor financed to promote denominational teachings and practices. It was never intended to take upon itself to impose changes to the faith and practice of the Lord's church.

[] Do not allow teachers to fill posts in your school who are not faithful members of the church of Christ. In days past, virtually all of our schools had that proviso in employment requirements.

[] Do not keep on your payroll those who have departed from the faith of Christ as revealed in the New Testament. A man who prefers Baptist doctrine should be teaching in a Baptist school.

[] Feel a deep sense of personal responsibility to the parents who have entrusted their children to you for their education, trusting that you would help make them stronger Christians, and useful members of the church of Christ.

[] Respect all of those saints who have given their hard-earned money to keep your school afloat in days past. They bequeathed to you their estates, firmly believing the faith they held would be perpetuated to future generations by your teachers.

[] If you no longer believe in or respect those basic fundamentals of New Testament Christianity, held and preached by past generations of the churches of Christ, then do the honorable thing and resign your post and allow others, who still believe, to carry on.

Weigh your decisions carefully against the Christian virtues of fidelity, honor, justice, respect and loyalty (Phil. 4:8). Our schools have been entrusted to you for a few short years. When you have finished your term of office they should be better than when you started, certainly not worse. They should in every case be a blessing to Christ's church and never a hindrance.

JHW

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 12, August, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A FELT NEEDS MINISTRY

Many of our contemporary ministers, fresh out of "ministry" programs in Graduate Schools, are looking for ways to meet the "felt needs of the people of their community and congregation." This is one of the aspects of the change movement. Bible-based preaching is downplayed and doctrine is considered unfruitful, but needs-based programs are the rage of the day.

Our local denominational neighbors are miles ahead of the "felt needs programs" of our brethren. For example the Unity Church of Sun City, AZ will offer an overnight trip to Avi Resort and & Casino in Laughlin, NV. The $25 charge covers your bingo fee. Some folks have a felt need to gamble.

The Radiant Church of Surprise provided a Sunday evening festival and concert for the youth of their congregation. It was "Christian Rock" at its best and no doubt met the felt needs of the kids who have been nurtured on Rock music. The only problem was, neighbors for blocks around called to complain about the disturbing noise ricocheting thought the night and into their homes. Natalie Hearn, Director of Marketing for the Radiant Church wrote a letter of apology to the community and submitted it to our local paper. This is a new area of ministry that most of us have overlooked.

The local Disciples of Christ church recently featured Desert City 4, a Dixieland jazz band, for a Sunday evening program. It met the needs of those who crave Dixieland Jazz.

Besides these classic examples each week we read of services featuring interpretative dancing, travel logs, classical performances, and a large assortment of other entertainment services.

I mention these bizarre examples because they illustrate where the change trail leads. A hundred and twenty-five years ago, the Disciples of Christ took the exit off the straitened and narrow way and went down the broad road they called progressivism. First it was a Missionary Society, then a piano, then fellowship with denominational churches, women preachers, theological liberalism and still they continue to press onward....further and further away from Christ and his Word. Denominational bodies such as the Unity and Radiant churches do not honor and respect the written Word of Christ as the final and absolute standard of authority in his religion. They illustrate the extremes to which that failure will lead. It is not unreasonable to predict that in a few years, at the current rate of drift, some groups formerly associated with Churches of Christ will be in the same league with them. A wise traveler will avoid exits that lead them away from the map their Master and forerunner has prepared for them. Felt needs won't carry much weight when we stand before the Master and are judged by the words that he spoke (John 12:48).

John H. Waddey

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 12, August, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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OUR POST WAR STRATEGY

As America contemplated war with Iraq, President Bush and his advisors were developing a post war strategy to help rebuild that nation and hopefully instill a love for freedom and democracy in the hearts of the Iraqi people. As we in the church do battle with the forces of the change movement, we too must be thinking of a meaningful post-war strategy.

It will not be enough just to win. If God is with us and we block the advance of this destructive movement; if the agents of change flee to the denominations which they so admire, what will our condition then be? Our mission must be bigger and broader than just defeating the enemy among us. There is a positive and constructive side of Christianity that must be pursued. Preachers or people who have no greater goal than doing battle with their own errant brethren have failed to understand our reason for existing.

We must not be content to save the status quo of the last 40 years. The church is in dire need of renewal by the restoration of Scriptural emphasis on all things related to her life and work, her faith and worship.

--- For 30 years our growth has been stagnant. We must renew our commitment to aggressive evangelism. The Great Commission is still our primary mission (Matt. 28:19).

--- A lost world still languishes for the simple gospel. We must send forth a new wave of missionaries Even as Americans grow cold and indifferent to the gospel, millions in other nations are begging for the bread of life.

--- American families, including many within the church, are being ravaged and shattered by the corrupting influences of our modern culture. We must provide teaching and training to prepare young adults for lasting marriage and to strengthen those already wed.

--- Our children are being corrupted by a decadent culture. Schools have been captured by humanists and are being used to undermine their faith in God and his Word. Corrupting music, television and movies are blurring their sense of moral judgment. We must renew our approach to educating them, rooting and grounding them in the faith of the gospel (Prov. 22:6).

--- Our members, generally, are deficient in Biblical knowledge. This has left thousands of them vulnerable to false teaching such as that of the change movement. We must do a better job of educating and indoctrinating them in the fundamentals of the faith.

--- The change agents have captured and spoiled some of our major schools that heretofore have provided advanced education for our young people and training for young preachers. Those lost to their clutches should be abandoned and the surviving, faithful schools must be supported and encouraged to greater service.

--- Many preachers have lost their faith in the authority of God's Word and the need to restore the original facets of the faith and practice of the church. Such are no longer of useful service to the church. They must be rejected and in their place a new generation of faithful men must be encouraged to take up the work of preaching and be trained for true and loyal service.

--- We must rebuild a sense of brotherhood. Those who are older can remember the sense of love, loyalty, concern and cooperation that existing among our brethren prior to the 1960s. Somewhere, somehow, that sense of brotherhood has been allowed to wither and atrophy. We must reverse this destructive trend. This sense of congregational isolation has contributed to the success of the change agents who have been able to prey on a given congregation while others ignored the danger of their brethren.

This conflict will be years in resolving. With God's help we will defeat those who have turned against the church they once loved and served. The big question is, "Are we committed to a workable post-war strategy?" Without such a strategy, the victors will eventually wither away.

John H. Waddey

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 12, August, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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THE CRUCIFORM CHURCH

C. Leonard Allen issued this book in 1990. It is one of the earlier books promoting the change agenda. At that time, Bro. Allen was an associate professor at Abilene Christian University's College of Biblical Studies. Thoughts, phrases and expression from this book echo in many of the speeches and books of other change agents. Bro. Allen is a chief theoretician and architect of the change movement that is ravaging our churches. This is a handbook for seducing unwitting Christians and churches away from their biblical roots and into the change agents' camp. Agents of change hide behind a mask of pretended piety and concern for the church, while chipping away at her foundations to effect her collapse. Allen gives lip service to his "debt to Churches of Christ." He concludes that his faith, learned in the Church of Christ, needs "careful alterations" (p. x). In this book he attempts to ingraft those alterations to faith upon his readers. The word "cruciform" means "a cross-shaped church." It is a picturesque term borrowed from denominationalism; likely intended to disarm readers who would think it was a positive, constructive attempt to bring the church closer to Christ.

--- Allen critiques the way we read Scriptures; the way we view God; the place we give to the cross; our stance towards the world; our portrayal of Christ-like character and gives us failing marks in each category (p. 14-15). If I were a member of a church that I found so flawed, I would be looking for a different body with more promise. Hopefully Bro. Allen and his tribe will do just that. Having read some 15 books by various change agents, I am impressed that all of them must read the same books or listen to the same thought leaders. They make the same criticisms and propose the same changes!

--- Change agents like to identify with illustrious teachers of the past for validation. Allen, claims Bro. G. C. Brewer as his hero. For the unknowing, the honored name of Brewer may give him credence, but those familiar with Brewer's life and work know he would not have given Allen the time of day. Brewer's books, "As Touching Those Who Were Once Enlightened" and "A Medley on the Music Question" belie their claims. He chastened those who left the church for denominationalism and those who vainly tried to justify instrumental music in worship.

--- Bro. A. tells us that we face an identity crisis" (p 3). But it is not those of the "traditional" churches who suffer identity crisis. It is the change agents and their converts who, abandoning the guiding principles of New Testament Christianity, are blindly searching for meaning and direction in the realm of denominationalism and subjectivism.

--- Allen contrasts his highly educated professorial peers with the humble, preachers of the past who were largely self-trained and pronounces his team the winner. But the proof is in the pudding. It was precisely those humble men who went forth with minds filled with the Word and hearts aflame and brought multitudes to Christ. They planted the churches and even established the schools the change agents now occupy and use for their new brand of religion. Even today it is not the professors and those with the doctorates that go forth seeking and saving the lost! To Allen, of all the thousands of preachers and teachers among us for 200 years, only a handful of recent change agents, principally at Abilene Christian U and Pepperdine U have correctly understood the Bible and its doctrines.

--- The author dismisses past brethren such as N. B. Hardeman with the wave of his hand, charging him with a "serious dislocation of the past" (p. 8). Bro. Allen assumes he is wiser and a better historian than Bro. Hardeman. The fact is his biblical knowledge, his ability as a teacher and preacher and most especially his usefulness to the Cause of Christ are a dim shadow beside Hardeman!

--- He says, we must "face the challenge of rethinking our traditional way of reading the Bible" (p. 19). He charges that, "Our traditional approach violated the historical and literary character of the Bible" (p. 32). This book is a promotional piece for the "New Hermeneutics."

--- Change agents like Allen delight in labeling the truths we hold dear as mere traditions that need to be abandoned for the new truths they have discovered.

--- Bro. Allen implies that all but his group of preachers and churches has "lost the word of the cross" (p. 113).

--- He builds his case on the faulty assumption that the Old Testament is universally neglected in our preaching and teaching; that we fail to appreciate and teach its great themes.

--- Chief among his criticisms are the following: "The central irony that has dogged our movement since its inception: the tendency to creedalize the absence of creeds, to make non-sectarian claims a centerpiece of one own sect, to make rejection of all human tradition a fixture of one's own robust tradition..." (p. 24).

--- Much of this book is filled with "theo-babble" i.e., heavy, obtuse, paragraphs fill with the cloudy language of the denominational theological seminary.

--- Allen and other change agents are determined to make the thought of Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone the basis of our faith! It may the basis of theirs but we will rest our faith on the foundation of the New Covenant of Christ.

--- Allen has a low and critical estimate of his brethren in the Churches of Christ. He finds his message and his delight in the liberal theologians and philosophers of Protestantism and the world.

--- Allen and other change agents are "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (II Tim. 3:7).

The good news is that Dr. Allen is now a visiting professor at Biola University in California, a Baptist school. There his theology fits his benefactors. This is a blessing for the church and young Christians who would be under his blighting influence were he teaching in one of our schools. Until he finds his way back to the simple faith and practice of New Testament Christianity, we should pray that he will stay there.

John H. Waddey

Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/ Vol. 2, No. 12, August, 2003
E-Mail: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com
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A Book You Should Read: The Church in Transition to What?

Shortly before his death, Bro. James D. Bales reviewed Jim Woodroof's book, "The Church in Transition". Bales called his book "The Church in Transition to What?" Bro. Bales was a long-time professor at Harding University and the author of some 85 books and hundreds of articles. With the skill of a surgeon he analyzes and refutes Woodroof's criticisms of the Lord's Church and exposes the errors of the changes he proposes. Several of Woodroof's pillars Bales utterly demolishes: 1). That the Gospels are of greater value and importance than the rest of the New Testament; 2). That unity is more important than doctrinal correctness; 3). That our brethren have not known, preached or appreciated the grace of God. Several valuable quotes are found in this little book:

--- Of the change agents of last century, G. C. Brewer observed, "Instrumental music was, in the beginning of the controversy, a symptom, and not itself the disease...They had lost their passion for restoration..."

--- J. W. McGarvey said, "don't ever let anybody persuade you that you can successfully combat error by fellowshipping it and going along with it."

--- Ruel Lemmons said, "Unity is fine, but unity at the expense of truth is despicable."

This book is a valuable weapon for our battle against the agents of change. Every preacher and elder should read it. Order from the Gospel Advocate, P. O. Box 150, Nashville, TN 37202.

John H. Waddey

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Source: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
E-Mail: JohnWaddey@aol.com
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IN THE GRIP OF GOD'S GRACE (A Review)

Without doubt Max Lucado is the most widely published and read member of the Church of Christ in our generation. His many books have found a ready audience among members of evangelical bodies as well as ours. Bro. Lucado is also one of the principal spokesmen for those who wish to change the faith, worship and practice of our people. Change agents often say that it is those who have discovered "grace" that are no longer content to be bound by the faith of the past. Bro. Lucado's book, In the Grip of Grace, is a good demonstration of what these brethren mean by that statement. For those looking for a serious Biblical study of God's grace, this book will be a disappointment. It is more like cotton candy, filled with cute, catchy sayings that impress the impressionable who know little of God's Word. In his introduction he tells us that he discovered God's grace only after he found "there was a hole in (his) coat of convictions" (p. xii). He delights in sarcastic allusions to people like us. "If I read my Bible, have the right opinion on the right doctrines, if I join this movement..." (p. 12). This is a line from his portrait of those he classes as legalists. He goes on to describe those who strive to please God by obeying his will as having "a religious godlessness." (Ibid.). He paints us as boasting about our "five steps" (p. 6) while we stand "knee deep in the water" trying to save ourselves (p. 5).

Bro. L's concept of grace is so strong that if a man is "given only the testimony of creation, then he has enough" (p. 23). That means that some can be saved without knowing Christ, or the message of the Bible simply by "know(ing) God through he handiwork of nature" (Ibid.)

The book reaches its climax in chapter 16 which is entitled, Life Aboard the Fellow-Ship. With the analogy of a battleship, he describes what he perceives to be Christ's church. It is big enough to accommodate virtually any doctrine (p. 161). Paul did not understand this as does Bro. L. The apostle wrote that "ye all speak the same things and that there be no divisions among you" (I Cor. 1:10). Bro. L's boat can accommodate such interesting beliefs as "once saved always saved," predestination, premillennialism, speaking in tongues, clerical robes, etc. In explaining who is to be accepted on God's ship (church) he says, "The Master says examine the person's faith. If he or she has faith in Jesus and is empowered by God, grace says that's enough" (p. 168). "If their (members of denominations) trust, like yours, is in the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ, aren't you covered with the same grace?" (p. 169). "God's ship is a grand vessel. Just as a ship has many rooms, so God's kingdom has room for many opinions..." (p. 170). The context makes it clear that he speaks of many different kinds of churches (denominations). This is identical to the old analogy about the vine and the branches used in days past to justify denominationalism. Defenders of that system quoted John 15 and said, Jesus is the vine and each denomination is a branch thereof.

Bro. Max Lucado continues to hold membership among churches of Christ. He preaches for the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio, TX. However the faith he holds and the views he expresses are quite different from those held by most of his brethren of this and past generations. It is easy to understand his popularity with those of the evangelical world, but it is a mystery that many within the Church of Christ see no problem with views such as cited above. Those who are unfamiliar with the message of Christ, who read and follow Bro. L's teaching, may well stand before God in judgment thinking that because they believed in Jesus, God's grace will save them. What a painful surprise it will be for them to hear Him say, "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" (Matt. 7:21).

John H. Waddey

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Source: John H. Waddey, editor of: http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com/
--------------- Section: Historical and Biographical Studies
E-Mail: JohnWaddey@aol.com
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PREACHERS: THEN AND NOW

Solomon observed that "there is no new thing under the sun." He asked, "Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See this is new? It hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us" (Eccle. 1:9-10). Another wise man noted that "he who does not learn the lessons of history is doomed to repeat the mistakes of history."

Many among us are concerned about the quality of preaching in our congregations' pulpits. While brethren sense that something is lacking many are baffled at the causes and solution to the problem.

While studying some of the historic literature of our brotherhood I came across a remarkable article by Moses Lard, distinguished writer and editor of the 19th century. As you read his pungent lines, reflect on the general fare of preaching you are familiar with and see if you recognize an analogy. I do not say that all preachers fall into this category, but the number who do is sufficient to be alarming.

"...a falling away will occur, and the iniquity which will induce it is at this moment at work. The sturdy love for the primitive faith which characterized the early preachers in the reformation is cooling in men who still linger in our ranks and call us brethren...

"In the first place, they are intensely sentimental; rather, they are intensely transcendental. They are very clerical in bearing, soft in speech, and languid and effeminate in spirit. They...never condemn anything except their brethren...They are ‘beautiful' men, and preach ‘beautiful' sermons. Their prayers are ‘beautiful' things, their songs ‘beautiful' songs. Moreover, they are very abstract men, and the aesthetic, the moral, the true, the beautiful, and the good are very fond phrases in their bloodless and virtuous lips...

"In the second place, they have an enormous fondness for sects and sectarians; and scowl on no one so indignantly as on the brother who dares to speak against them. With them sectarians are all Christians; and it is a favorite saying among them that ‘we are as sectarian as any other people.' They seldom speak of their brethren except to disparage them; and never of the ‘other' parties of the day except to laud them. In plain English, these men see nothing good in the great brotherhood to whom they are an offense, nor anything bad in the sects with whom their affinities really are...

"To the brethren everywhere I say, see to it that your preachers are kept to the Book. Allow no departure from it; and all will be well" (Lard's Quarterly, Vol. 4, pp. 347-348).

I ask, do not these ancient words sound vaguely familiar? Those men described by Bro. Lard were the ones who gradually drifted into the apostasy of the Disciples of Christ/Christian Church. They made shipwreck concerning the faith (I Tim. 2:19). Their direction was set; it was just a matter of time until they reached their destination. Their spiritual grandchildren circulate among us today. They are the champions of "change" and they will end up in the same denominational camp as their forebearers.

No congregation can long be stronger than its pulpit. As the old proverb has it, "it is like preacher like people." Somehow, somewhere, there has been a serious failure in the indoctrinating and training of a generation of ministers. They make speeches but do not preach the soul-saving, church-building gospel (Mk. 16:15). They stay busy, but not in doing the work of an evangelist (II Tim. 4:5). If we do not come to grips with this problem, dark and difficult days lay ahead for the kingdom of God.

May God raise up a band of faithful men to stand in the gap while we rebuild the crumbling walls of Zion (Ezek. 22:30). May we learn the lessons of our history so we will not repeat those awful mistakes of the past.

John H. Waddey

Powerful winds of change are blowing across the landscape of the Lord's church. Criticism and speculations that would not have been tolerated a generation ago now go unchallenged. Schools that once were bastions of faithful teaching now ring with uncertain sounds. Champions of the faith, that formerly stood in the breaches to turn away proponents of error, have now finished their course and await the Lord's return. Today such giants of the faith are hard to find. Looking around we see in their place too many preachers who either do not know the fundamentals of the faith, or how to defend it. Worse still, there are some who do not hold those sacred truths. In the last twenty years those who no longer believe in the restoration of New Testament Christianity have grown bolder and now openly speak and write things which they would only have whispered in private in days past. To those timid souls who cannot find it in themselves to address the issues before us I raise the question, "What will happen to the Church of Christ if nothing is said or done to preserve her from those who are daily working to change her into something new and different?"

* Some no longer feel obliged to look to the New Testament as the sole authority for their faith and practice.
* Some are experimenting with new concepts of leadership for congregations.
* Some are creating their own organizations to do the work God commissioned his church to do.
* Some are willing to open the leadership of the church to women.
* Some are ready to embrace the use of instrumental music in worship and denominational ideas regarding the Lord's Supper.
* Some are ready to embrace other religious bodies in Christian fellowship, even though they do not wear the name of Christ nor respect his holy Word.
* Some are eager to convince us that the church is nothing more than a denomination like those around us.
* Some feel superior to those saints who went before us and hesitate not to belittle them and the work they did.
* Some thirst for an emotion-based worship like they see in the electronic churches of the tel-evangelists.
* Some have embraced a humanistic code of human conduct and come to terms with the sinful world.

We are truly engaged in a great struggle for the heart and soul of the church and her members. The problem is, only one side is doing much fighting. Those whose job it is to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3) and to fight the good fight of the faith (I Tim. 6:12) are often found sleeping, playing, running or encouraging those who are enemies of Christ's Cause. If we do nothing, those who would reconstitute the church will win by default. They will train our preachers; they will write and publish their corrupting message. They will influence our children in the colleges we have built and sustained. Their disciples will fill our pulpits and the day will come when the church of Christ that we have known and loved will cease to exist. Do not deceive yourself by saying such could never happen. All one need do is to look at our religious neighbors. Bodies that once were pillars of conservatism are now sink holes of liberalism that bear little or no semblance to their past.

Fellow preachers and elders "quit ye like men" (I Cor. 16:13). Get to work today fortifying the souls of those in your charge. Teach them the fundamentals. Take nothing for granted. Provide good sound tracts that explain what we believe and why. Recommend dependable Christian journals. Use your church bulletins to set forth simple lessons on every truth we hold. Let your pulpits ring with solid, timely lessons that do more than build self-esteem. Teach your brethren why we are what we are. Explain the problems facing us and show their fallacies. If you are so fortunate that these problems have not yet come your way, prepare your brethren so they will be alert and set to resist them when they do appear. Pray mightily unto God to help us successfully defend the walls of Zion so that we can pass the true faith of Christ to the generation that shall follow us.

John Waddey

***For Reviews of Books relating to the Change Movement visit www.christianity-then-and-now.com. For evangelistic lessons see www.firstcenturychristian.com.

Dear and Respected Elders,

May I greet you in the sweet name of Christ.

I am a Church of Christ preacher working in INDIA. I am publishing a monthly paper in our native language called TAMIL.

When I go throw your web site I am very much impressed. I kindly request you give me the permission to use some of your good articles in our monthly magazine in translating them in to TAMIL. If possible kindly send me some of your old magazines.

In Christ,
K.M.Peter.

When Naaman, the Syrian leper, was told to wash in Jordan and he would be cleansed of his disease, he responded, "Behold I thought, He will surely come out to me and stand, and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper" (II Kings 5:11). His plaintiff words, "Behold I thought" have been the basis for thousands of sermons. They are most appropriate for the church at the beginning of the 21st century.

These words of Naaman reflect a mistaken assumption on his part that could have caused him to die a leper. Among contemporary churches of Christ such mistaken assumptions could also result in irreparable damage. Powerful and influential men and schools among us are working feverishly to impose changes on our churches that are neither scriptural nor helpful. These changes have to do with the name we wear, the doctrine we hold, the worship we offer to God, the role of women, the way of salvation, the authority of the Bible and numerous other matters. When folks read or hear of the work of these change agents some make dangerous assumptions.

* Some assume it is no big deal. How wrong they are. These changes, if accomplished, will destroy the very foundation on which the church stands. The rubble that will survive will not be a church of Christ but a denomination.

* Others assume it involves just a few young preachers. Wrong! The changes are being championed by a bevy of professors associated with our Christian Universities. The problem has already spread throughout the country and affected several of our largest churches. It is found in virtually every large city in the country. It is safe to say that several hundred preachers are already committed to this program, maybe more.

* Some assume it will go away if left alone. Wrong again. Error works like leaven and if left alone it will soon affect the entire brotherhood (I Cor. 5:6). It is like a deadly virus. Once turned loose in a church it will not cease until it is driven out or until it has conquered its host. It also spreads from church to church especially through youth groups and campus activities attended by young Christians.

* Others assume that no one will listen to them. Already a significant host of our people has embraced the clamor for change. Large audiences at some Christian university lectureships stand and applaud the outlandish pronouncements of such speakers.

* Some assume it will not affect us. This is a tragic assumption which can have destructive results. No congregation is immune to the possibility that someone will try to bring in this heresy. Members can however be inoculated beforehand by sound teaching and proper warning. If done they will not be vulnerable to the erroneous message.

* Still others assume that someone else will rise up and squash the false teachers, therefore I need not inform myself or address the issue. The church is more vulnerable today than in years past. We have no David Lipscombs, G. C. Brewers, Guy N. Woods, or Thomas Warrens prepared to do battle with the false teachers among us. We are an army of soldiers with few brilliant, courageous generals among us. Each of us must prepare himself and fight the good fight of the faith in our own community (I Tim. 6:12).

* Many assume that God won't let it happen to his church. Wrong! It happened a hundred years ago when digression swept away 85 percent of our congregations and people, all of our schools, most of our mission work. Look around you and see the Disciples of Christ and Christian Churches that are the proof that such has happened and can happen again. We must learn and heed the lessons of history lest we repeat the mistakes of the past.

Naaman escaped from his leprosy only because he abandoned his false assumption and did what God instructed him to do. So it will be for the church of our generation. We must stand fast, we must resist every effort to subvert the faith, we must contend earnestly for "the faith" of Christ revealed in the New Testament (Jude 3). We must take note of them that are causing divisions among us and turn away from them (Rom. 16:17-18).

John Waddey

The champions of change prefer stories over Biblical preaching. I have a story to share with you and them. Many years ago my younger brother bought a hotrod car. The previous owner, whom we will call Lynn, started with a Henry J. (Young folks may never have heard of that one, but it was a real brand, on the market in the 50s). When the owner wanted a hotrod to use for racing he began to modify and change his Henry J. First he removed the fenders. Then he removed the seats and installed bucket seats in the front. Roll bars were added. Special springs and shocks were placed on the back to elevate it and large oversize racing tires were installed. The Henry J motor was replaced with a powerful Cadillac engine, the transmission and drive chain with that of an Oldsmobile. The differential was also exchanged for a racing type. The mufflers were stripped away.

Now my question is, when did Lynn's car cease to be a Henry J and become the creation of Lynn. When I saw this machine it did not look like, drive like, sound like or in any way resemble the Henry J designed by and produced by Kaiser-Frazier Motor Company. It was, at that point, a car that had been totally changed by Lynn and its original design marred and destroyed.

Another Lynn and lots of his friends are busily at work among Churches of Christ attempting to redesign and change our churches into a new model that meets their personal interests and needs. The original model was designed by Christ and set in motion by his apostles. The blueprint and design are clearly recorded in the New Testament. The following changes have already been made in many places:

--- The name. It seems the change agents are uncomfortable with the name Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) and prefer most any other designation.

--- The communion. Rather than a sacred memorial in an hour of worship (I Cor. 11:17-34), they prefer a setting with a common meal (See John Mark Hicks, Come to the Table).

--- The congregational, acappella singing (Eph. 5:19), they would replace with choirs, soloists and instrumental music.

--- The proclamation of the gospel by men of God (I Cor. 1:21), they would replace with story telling, drama and interpretative dances.

--- The ancient way of Salvation by grace through faith, repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38) they would replace with "grace only" or "faith only." (See Max Lucado and Rubel Shelly's pronouncements).

--- The New Testament as an authoritative pattern for the church to follow (Heb. 8:5; II Tim. 1:13) they would replace with "love letter" and personal illumination of the Holy Spirit.

--- The one unique church purchased by the blood of Christ, built by the Savior, loved by the Master as his bride and to be saved by Him, they would replace with a denomination founded by Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone.

--- The church as the one and only family of God to which He adds all the saved, they would change to a denomination of the same value as the 1200 others in our world.

--- The male leadership God ordained for his church (I Cor. 14:34), they would change to a leadership made up of both men and women.

--- The decent and orderly worship of the New Covenant (I Cor. 14:40), they would exchange for a boisterous service or hand-clapping and emotional display.

--- The church that is always looking back to the original pattern set forth by Christ and attempting to be like it, they would change for a church that is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

I am sure there are other modifications that these designing brothers are working on, but these suffice for my point. We asked when did Kaiser-Frazier's Henry J cease to be their product and become Lynn's? Now when does a church that is being so radically changed ceased to be Christ's and become Lynn's or Royce's or Rubel's? When the church in Ephesus left her first love, Christ warned them, "Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come...and will move they candlestick out of its place..." (Rev. 2:5).

John Waddey

King Solomon found it useful to draw illustrations from nature to teach his moral lessons. Ants teach diligence, locusts team work, lizards audacity and conies wise planning (Prov. 30:25-28). Nature also provides Christian leaders useful lessons in this day when liberal proponents of change are surfacing throughout our brotherhood.

As termites delight to feed on the foundations of find old homes and eventually bring them to ruin, so the liberal preacher or disciple loves to eat away at the foundations of a congregation. Termites do their destructive work secretly and quietly. The unsuspecting owner never realizes their presence until serious damage is done. So the liberal does his work in a congregation. Many an unsuspecting eldership has labored under the false impression that they had a great servant of God in their midst. Thinking he was building up the body of Christ, they discovered later he had undermined their authority and subverted their leadership. Consequently the congregation fell into the hands of those who had abandoned the faith of Christ for a new gospel (Gal. 1:6-7).

As the chameleon can change his colors to match his environment, so the liberal can put on varies faces as the occasion demands. If asked pointblank if he is teaching error, he can easily deny it or couch his answer is slippery words designed to fool his questioner. He can affect an air of being crushed that anyone would doubt his loyalty to the old Biblical ways.

In the presence of strong conservatives he can appear to be one of them. But with a fellow liberal he can take on his hue. He is capable of preaching good sermons that have the ring of the old "Jerusalem gospel" but he can go into a home and cast doubt on the foundational truths of the religion of Christ.

Speaking for a liberal church he can give them just what they wish to hear, and then do the same for a conservative congregation. To a liberal, truth is a malleable, subjective thing. He does not believe it to be hard and fast. Also he tends to believe that his agenda for changing the church justifies his being like the chameleon to achieve his goal.

Just as mice never wait for an invitation, so liberals will insinuate themselves in to a congregation and begin to make it their own. They rarely wait to be invited to come and change a church. They take it upon themselves to do so. Just as no thinking person wants mice in his home, no spiritual minded elder wants to have a liberal at work in the congregation he leads. Once ensconced they are hard to get rid of and they are destructive.

In delivering his lessons from nature, Solomon said, "Go to the ant...Consider her ways and be wise" (Prov. 6:6). Wise leaders will remember the termite, the chameleon and the mouse and be wise.

John Waddey

King Solomon found it useful to draw illustrations from nature to teach his moral lessons. Ants teach diligence, locusts team work, lizards audacity and conies wise planning (Prov. 30:25-28). Nature also provides Christian leaders useful lessons in this day when liberal proponents of change are surfacing throughout our brotherhood.

As termites delight to feed on the foundations of find old homes and eventually bring them to ruin, so the liberal preacher or disciple loves to eat away at the foundations of a congregation. Termites do their destructive work secretly and quietly. The unsuspecting owner never realizes their presence until serious damage is done. So the liberal does his work in a congregation. Many an unsuspecting eldership has labored under the false impression that they had a great servant of God in their midst. Thinking he was building up the body of Christ, they discovered later he had undermined their authority and subverted their leadership. Consequently the congregation fell into the hands of those who had abandoned the faith of Christ for a new gospel (Gal. 1:6-7).

As the chameleon can change his colors to match his environment, so the liberal can put on varies faces as the occasion demands. If asked pointblank if he is teaching error, he can easily deny it or couch his answer is slippery words designed to fool his questioner. He can affect an air of being crushed that anyone would doubt his loyalty to the old Biblical ways.

In the presence of strong conservatives he can appear to be one of them. But with a fellow liberal he can take on his hue. He is capable of preaching good sermons that have the ring of the old "Jerusalem gospel" but he can go into a home and cast doubt on the foundational truths of the religion of Christ.

Speaking for a liberal church he can give them just what they wish to hear, and then do the same for a conservative congregation. To a liberal, truth is a malleable, subjective thing. He does not believe it to be hard and fast. Also he tends to believe that his agenda for changing the church justifies his being like the chameleon to achieve his goal.

Just as mice never wait for an invitation, so liberals will insinuate themselves in to a congregation and begin to make it their own. They rarely wait to be invited to come and change a church. They take it upon themselves to do so. Just as no thinking person wants mice in his home, no spiritual minded elder wants to have a liberal at work in the congregation he leads. Once ensconced they are hard to get rid of and they are destructive.

In delivering his lessons from nature, Solomon said, "Go to the ant...Consider her ways and be wise" (Prov. 6:6). Wise leaders will remember the termite, the chameleon and the mouse and be wise.

John Waddey

Please see "TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE? (Part 2)"

for additional articles.