HOLDING UP BILLY'S HANDS

GARY W. SUMMERS


In the battle against the Amalekites Israel prevailed when Moses held up his hands. When he rested his arms, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur helped the nation be victorious by holding up Moses' hands (Ex. 17:9-13). Thus the phrase, holding up someone's hands has come to mean rendering them assistance.

Once upon a time there was a man who held up the hands of brethren such as Thomas B. Warren, Alan Highers, and other faithful proclaimers and defenders of the Word of God. But then he went to Vanderbilt to get a Ph. D., which some thought would be used to fight atheism. He has used his education, however, to fight everything that he and his mentors once stood for. Like young Anakin Skywalker, Rubel Shelly has betrayed everything true and right and noble to become the Darth Vader of the church.

There was a time when Shelly would have fought against the "gospel" that Billy Graham teaches, when he would have known that "faith only" is not Biblical and therefore cannot save. He once understood the role that baptism plays in one's salvation and would have defended it staunchly.

Formerly, he would have fought the enemy; now he is the enemy. Twenty years ago no one, in his worst nightmare, would have ever imagined that Rubel Shelly would be lifting up the hands of Billy Graham. Below, however, is the announcement of his intention to do exactly that, as it was printed in Lovelines, his weekly church bulletin (September 29, 1999).

Billy Graham Crusade * June 1-4, 2000/Adelphia Coliseum

By now it is likely that you have heard the news that Billy Graham is planning an evangelistic crusade for Nashville in the spring of next year. This crusade has the potential to be a significant event in the spiritual life of many people in our city.

Dr. Graham will soon be 82 years old, and he is being treated for Parkinson's Disease. The Middle Tennessee Billy Graham Crusade could be among his final efforts at preaching to stadiums filled with seeking hearts.

Woodmont Hills supports the decision of Dr. Graham and his ministry team to be in Nashville. Even though traditional revivals and crusade events are no longer believed to be the best way to reach people with the message of Christ, the uniqueness of this event stands to make it effective in reaching many who don't know Christ.

It is important for the members of our church family to understand why we will be enthusiastic participants. Billy Graham presents Jesus Christ as mankind's only hope for eternal life. "My one purpose in life," he insists, "is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which I believe comes through knowing Christ." If it is right to link arms with other believers to oppose pornography and drugs, surely it cannot be wrong to join with them to preach Christ crucified.

Dr. Graham has a reputation of honesty, accountability, and moral uprightness. In a generation when so many evangelists have been tarnished by scandal, he has exhibited Christian character throughout his career.

The Graham Crusade will challenge the church in Nashville to reap a harvest of souls to God's glory. The most important part of the crusade will not be four days of preaching at the coliseum but the months of prayer, teaching, and seed-planting that will lead up to the first week in June of 2000.

The invitation to be given each evening will be for persons to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Respondents will then make a self-designating choice to be counseled about the meaning of their decision by people from several different groups. We will be working closely with the campaign effort to advise and teach those who mark "Church of Christ." We will also try to connect such persons with a congregation that can minister to them appropriately and help them in their spiritual pilgrimage.

With the blessing of our shepherds, Rubel Shelly is serving as a General Committee Member on behalf of this outreach effort. Several of our shepherds wrote letters of invitation to Dr. Graham to encourage him to come to our city. Training sessions for crusade workers will be hosted on our property. And we ask all of you to pray for the success of this effort to exalt Jesus Christ in our great city.

Jesus is not only the hope of the world--but of our city, your block, and a non-Christian friend you can begin now to pray will attend the crusade with you next spring.

[Editor's note: No one will be saved through Graham's "preaching" or Shelly's follow-up work. These men and the "shepherds" are accountable; pray for them.]

*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please refer to this article as: "HOLDING UP BILLY'S HANDS (1/9/00)."

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garysummers@spiritualperspectives.org

It is easy to FELLOWSHIP when you believe the same things as Billy Graham:

Rubel Shelly PREPPING Wodmont Hills for the LEAP:

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

Background to Billy Graham

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

Maybe someone from Woodmont will tell us what your TAKE was from the Graham Crusade. They will USE the gullible troublers but they will NOT give any leads to a FAITHFUL church of Christ. And, uh, how many books were sold? CDS? Bookings?

Watch out for WINTERFEST which is an ancient PAGAN MAD WOMAN'S midwinter festival. They learned the TRICKS from Hitler etal.

Ken Sublett

as a former Church of Christ member, I think it is wonderful that rubel shelly was involved in the billy Graham crusade to reach ppl for Christ, we are saved by grace through faith, and I am very happy to hear that there is a real revival taking place in the Churchs of Christ all over this nation , I was raised up in the coc all my life , but this is a new day , and I have come to believe in salvation by faith , god bless all , Carl Straight

Carl, you deserve credit for identifying yourself as a “former member”—that’s being honest and brave. So, now that you’re OUTSIDE or an EX-MEMBER of Christ’s church by your own admission, what religious denomination are you a member of? You did not say.

Before I briefly discuss the salvation issue with you, let me point out that the FEW apostate churches (Richland Hills, Oak Hills, Woodmont Hills and “other hills”) DO NOT REPRESENT the 13,000+ plus congregations, the silent majority, in the nation). [Plus the fact that even these FEW apostate churches still have MANY members who are loyal to the truth and have great love for the true church.] These “Hills” Community Churches, unfortunately, are led by prominent change agents in the brotherhood: Rick Atchley, Max Lucado and Rubel Shelly, respectively. These are trans-Baptist/Pentecostal agents. There is NO “REAL REVIVAL” taking place in the churches of Christ. These men are creating confusion, chaos, upheaval, division, subversion, diversion, alienation, obstruction, perversion. Please don’t call that REAL REVIVAL.

As to the salvation issue, let me just briefly mention the following. I agree with you that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5). No works of righteousness can ever be counted to replace or substitute for the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. That is the divine part—God’s unconditional love and grace and mercy.

Where I differ with your Baptist brethren is in the area of man’s part—the unconverted must act upon or react to receive this free gift. How? By meeting God’s conditions in order to receive His unconditional love! There is not a single scripture to prove that trust or faith in Jesus removes sins. Instead, Acts 2:38 specifically states that one must repent and be buried with Christ in baptism in order to receive forgiveness of sins and to receive the Spirit’s gift. Are you with me so far? And Romans 3:25 clear states that the conversion process results in “THE REMISSION OF SINS THAT ARE PAST.” There is not one iota of evidence to support the notion that the conversion process includes the remission of future or uncommitted sins.

The famous 2nd chapter of Ephesians simply recounts the past experience of the brethren at Ephesus—how that they were converted (saved [from past sins]) by grace through faith and not of works of righteousness. The Baptist followers just want to stop at this point. [I wish I could stop at this point, too.] But that’s where you, Carl, and your new brethren are misinterpreting God’s message.

Look at the contrast being made between the “unconverted” status and the “converted” status beginning with verse 10. For [because] WE, Christians, are his workmanship created unto good works!!! Good works, Carl! Hebrews 5:8,9 and James 2 emphasize obedience unto eternal salvation, that faith without works is dead.

Here a few of the many, many passages that clearly indicate the insufficiency of faith in the life of a Christian, as a true follow and servant of Christ. A Christian must persevere and endure to the end in order to receive the crown of eternal life. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT FAITH IS ALL IT TAKES TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN?

------ “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (I John 2:3,4)

------ “Not every one 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)

------ “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I John 2:17)

------ “[14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2)

------ “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:8)

------ “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

------ “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12)

------ “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8,9)

------ “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)

------ “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22)

------ “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt. 24:13)

------ “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13)

------ “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27)

------ “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)

------ “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Heb. 9:15)

------ “In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2)

------ “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) … For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:23,36)

------ “[24] Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. [25] And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (I John 2)

------ “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)

------ “[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.” (Romans 2)

Donnie Cruz

PLUMBLINE -- Editor, Wayne Coats
Vol. 4 No. 8, March 2000

Rubel and Billy


Not since the days when old Jessie B. Ferguson came to Nashville, Tennessee, and led the church into apostasy, has there been such a disgraceful, foolish, silly, blundering, inconsistent, inane, absurd, preposterous, senseless, asinine and ridiculous apostate effort as is being promoted by Rubel Shelly and his Shepherds.

I am referring to an announcement which was contained in "Lovelines" which is "The Weekly Newsletter of the Family of God at Woodmont Hills," and which Newsletter was sent to me by a friend.

The heading of the article under consideration is: "Billy Graham Crusade -- June 1-4, 2000, Adelphia Coliseum."

I beg and plead with the reader to ponder the following comments carefully and prayerfully. The article in the bulletin states, "Woodmont Hills supports the decision of Dr. Graham and his ministry team to be in Nashville."

For one, I am not at all surprised that Shelly and his crowd will support a Baptist preacher such as a Billy crusade. It is a fact with the force of a demonstration that Shelly will ridicule, make fun of, deride, scoff, jeer, mock, sneer, put down, and laugh at the conservative congregations. This is too evident for honest people to deny. The records (tapes) are available and prove the assertion.

It is sickening to reflect upon the fact that Nashville has been the scene of so many courageous battles upon the part of dear old brethren down through the years as they battled the Baptist preachers in defense of the ancient order of things and now comes one who claims to represent Christ, but betrays that for which gallant soldiers have suffered so much.

The Woodmont piece informs its readers that, "our church family...will be enthusiastic participants." That means all of those Lipscomb professors who are a part of the "church family" will be "enthusiastic participants." Is this true or false?

The reader will recall a former issue of the Plumblinewherein it was noted that Dan Dozier and his wife had joined the Community Church in Hendersonville, but they left and joined Shelly's Church. It would be most interesting to hear Dan babble why he left the Community Church to join Rubel's Church. It would make as much sense for those far-out liberals to join in with the atheists of Nashville--but of course the liberals never make any sense.

"...The uniqueness of this event stands to make it effective in reaching many who don't know Christ." It is puerile beyond description to prattle that Billy Graham will tell people how they can know Jesus Christ. Baptist preachers and Baptist doctrine keeps people blinded to a saving knowledge of Christ. One must know the truth in order to be free from sin (John 8:32). I emphatically deny that Billy and Rubel teach the truth which sets men free.

"Billy Graham presents Jesus Christ as mankind's only hope for eternal life." This is but another case of Shelly's foolishness. If Billy and Rubel presented Christ, hope, and eternal life, they would present what the Bible teaches instead of sectarian and cultic theology.

Rubel avers, "If it is right to link arms with other believers to oppose pornography and drugs, surely it cannot be wrong to join with them to preach Christ crucified?" What Shelly needs to do is remove the "if" and tell people what the Bible teaches, but this is expecting too much of Rubel. Jesus did not link arms with the religious racketeers of his day, nor did the apostles. People used to have enough sense to respect the Word of God above and beyond the clatter of false teachers. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Eph. 5:11). "Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17). "(Touch not, taste not, handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men" (Col. 2:21-22). The preceding passages mean nothing to the Shelly crowd.

Shelly speaks of linking arms with "other believers." Of course he has reference to the Billy brand of Baptists. Billy Graham believes and teaches that little babies are born totally depraved. Will Rubel link arms with the Baptist preacher on this false doctrine? John R. Graves who was a very noted Baptist preacher said, "total depravity is a doctrine which Baptists believe the Bible teaches...." Graves also said, "We, as Baptists, teach that repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ secure pardon." Will Shelly and his family link arms with Billy on that statement of Baptist doctrine?

Further, Graves stated, "Baptists believe that when they are saved, they are eternally saved." Of course Billy babbles these points of Baptist doctrine, and Rubel and his clones will try to act like they are "enthusiastic participants" with Billy in these false doctrines.

Graves asks the question, "Do you believe the doctrine of once in grace, always in grace, as taught by the Baptists?" "...The things about which we differ are not essential to salvation." Rubel will link arms on this point and out-shout the Holy-Rollers.

The main sugar-stick of Billy Graham is the whoop-it-up about the direct, supernatural, illuminating, work of the Holy Spirit in conversion. In this, Shelly will link arms and try to keep a straight face while the Holy Spirit supposedly leads one to be a Baptist, another to be an Adventist, another to be a Mormon, still others to be whatever (stripe and ilk--Rubel's words) they choose to be.

"We will be working closely with the campaign effort to advise and teach those who mark, 'Church of Christ'." My sincere judgment would be that with all the splutter from Shelly about name-dropping, a person would have to be some sort of stark-naked fool to mark, "Church of Christ." Yes, I do wonder how much sarcasm Shelly can exude toward one of those markers.

"With the blessing of our shepherds, Rubel Shelly is serving as a General Committee member on behalf of this outreach effort." "Our shepherds" will bless Billy and the Baptists, and some of the shepherds will run back to the Lipscomb campus and bless the students and others who feel a need to be blessed. While these blessings are taking place, a whole bevy of brothers in Nashville will continue nursing their affliction with lockjaw.

"Several of our shepherds wrote letters of invitation to Dr. Graham to encourage him to come to our city." Again, I am not surprised at anything "our shepherds" might support. It does bother me no little to reflect upon the fact that brethren have been so obstinate, blind and persistent in their efforts to hob-nob with the Shelly crew.

For several years I have stood opposed to the shenanigans of Rubel Shelly and other liberals in Nashville and I have tried my best to warn brethren. While opposing and exposing Shelly-Flatt, etc., and their notorious Jubilee; Abilene, Harding, Freed-Hardeman and Lipscomb Universities were helping to support the ungodly outfit. When Lipscomb wheels opened the auditorium on campus for Shelly and his gang to meet in, I tried to get some of the board members to hear my plea, but to no avail.

When Neil Anderson and the Gospel Advocate were pumping up the Jubilee and purchasing booth space, I tried to get Neil to turn the Advocate around. My reward has been an increase in cold stares and enemies. I truly believe it will be better for me to fall straight, rather than to stand crooked.

Billy Graham teaches salvation by faith alone. Shelly must feel proud to link arms with a Baptist preacher who teaches such heretical foolishness. There is not enough conviction in the entire motley crew of "our shepherds" to get them to make any sort of sensible effort to defend Rubel and Billy in preaching Baptist Doctrine.

Does Shelly believe in hereditary total depravity? Does he believe in the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit? Does he believe in salvation by faith alone? Does he believe in once saved always saved? Does he believe Baptist doctrine? What about these shepherds of Shelly who teach at Lipscomb?

Guess who the villain really is. If he isn't called by some slurring term, he might be referred to as W. Coats.

Shelly has the unmitigated gall to go over on the Vanderbilt campus and debate an atheist. Even a half-wit atheist could unravel Rubel as he tries to link arms with false teachers. Instead of trying to show-off while debating an atheist on the Vanderbilt campus, with his modernism so obvious, Shelly might as well link arms with atheists. Who will deny this? The man has written and said too much. Of course we know that Rubel knows exactly which propositions to deal with and where to deal with them.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

--Wayne Coats, Editor

PLUMBLINE -- Editor, Wayne Coats
Vol. 4 No. 9, April 2000

More Shelly Nonsense

A note from Rubel Shelly's church which speaks of the forthcoming Billy Graham Crusade declares, "Hearing Dr. Graham speak in one of the final Crusades his age and health will allow him to conduct, could get someone there--and the Spirit of God can handle things from there. The preached Word of God can be his instrument to touch that person's heart."

The saying of Shelly is sickening beyond belief. To be so gullible as to think that Billy Graham will preach the whole counsel of God, leaves me to wonder what has happened to Rubel. Will Shelly explain what the Spirit does in touching someone's heart? Of course not! Will the Spirit touch one person and make him a Baptist and touch the heart of another and make him a Catholic, while touching another's heart and making him an Adventist?

Shelly slobbers, "Like most churches involved with the Crusade in Middle Tennessee, we will participate aggressively in some parts of it and pass on others." Could it be that the poor fellow doesn't know any better? Tis a shame that in an effort where the Holy Spirit is supposed to be so active, Shelly and his clones will be passing over something.

That is almost as admirable as Old Judas Iscariot who very aggressively kissed my Lord, but passed some things on to others, including the murder of Jesus Christ. The entire rotten affair stinks to high heaven. Will Shelly and his cronies please inform us just what will be passed on to others? I still say that it is a crying shame that stupidity isn't painful. But read on!

"Many churches of Christ choose not to participate in Graham Crusades because Dr. Graham does not end his lessons with a call to baptism." I would answer the above by saying that only pure idiots would believe Rubel's ramblings. The reason faithful brethren refuse to fellowship Billy Graham is not how Billy ends his lessons, but that which exists before Billy arrives in town. Rubel Shelly knows this to be a fact which he cannot sidestep or deny. He had to babble something for his clones to swallow. Why did he not print the truth? Why cover up the real reasons. Does Rubel, in his blindness, think faithful congregations fellowship Billy when he is not in a Crusade? Does Shelly believe many churches of Christ will fellowship Billy until he gets ready to end his spiel? Faithful brethren have no intention of fellowshipping Baptist preachers or Rubel Shelly.

Why does Graham not "...end his lessons with a call to baptism?" Is this what Shelly will pass on and over? Is baptism not to be preached? Is baptism for the remission of sins no part of the word of God? Is Shelly so silly as to refuse to accept what the apostles preached about baptism and instead align with Billy Graham? For shame!

The fact that Billy Graham refused to preach the truth on baptism, and will follow the Baptist manual, means nothing to Rubel Shelly. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Billy teaches that he that believeth is saved and may be baptized if he wants to. Why will Billy not tell people how to be saved? Why will Shelly help a false teacher who deceives people? To know what Shelly preaches, one would need to know what pleases the crowds.

Please notice, "The truth is that most of the people who respond at such events are not ready to be baptized." Of course not! Neither are they ready to reject error, heresy and false doctrine and they never will be ready by listening to Rubel and Billy. If these two false teachers rejected the doctrines of devils, they would not be so popular with the multitudes.

After, "most people respond at such events, who are not ready to be baptized," will Shelly and his heretical crew get those people ready for baptism? How? What will Shelly tell the people which Billy would not? Is there no condemnation for not preaching the whole counsel of God? For what purpose will those people be baptized? They will not be baptized in order to be saved. Rubel says that such people who respond, not being ready to be baptized, "have their hearts touched by the story of Jesus, and they are eager for the life-change that has been emphasized in the message." What a silly farce, a shame, a bag of fermented ignorance!

When Saul of Tarsus heard the preacher and inquired, he was told to "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:26). When the people on Pentecost heard the apostles preach they were told to, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Those ancient people didn't need a crew of heretical counselors to, "begin a process of teaching that brings that man or woman to baptism, identification with a local Church, and growth in Christ."

This scenario has all the earmarks of an Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, Tammy Faye, Charles Jessup and other fakes who had their tents of seclusion. No doubt the spiritual illiterates will be impressed with Rubel and Billy. Shelly will lead blind followers as long as they consent.

"People who hear Dr. Graham preach are asked to, 'make a decision to accept Jesus Christ'." It looks like these people have already made their "decision to accept Jesus Christ." So what more do they need from Rubel? If they have accepted Jesus Christ, will they need to accept Rubel? After they accept Jesus, Billy, and Rubel, will they ever be able to slip backward into their former life of sin? Those poor deluded souls will not be accepting Christ, but heresy in its worst form.

Rubel pontificates, "respondents identify their church background or preference and are referred to people from that tradition." Rubel's religion is a kind of smorgasbord where one can become one's own god. Shelly is not the only little godlet who sits in his homespun temple, "showing himself that he is god." He has long since refused to defend his false theology. He knows better than to try to uphold his liberal views.

What needs to be made public is the many characters who fellowshipped Shelly and his notorious Jubilee, and that includes the compromises from "our" universities. Have you seen any indication of repentance upon the part of any of those who hob-nobbed with the Great One? I doubt that such will occur due to the fact that a certain amount of honesty, integrity, conviction and godly sorrow is essential to genuine repentance. And, a tremendous amount of humility is required.

Please brethren! How in the name of common sense, reason and truth, can anyone approve of some of the Lipscomb people helping during a Billy Graham campaign? When I get ready to help false teachers, you may rest assured that I have deposited my brains on the doorstep.

--Wayne Coats, Editor

PLUMBLINE -- Editor, Wayne Coats
Vol. 4 No. 7, February 2000

Shepherds, Shelly and Billy

In a former article, attention was given to some statements made by Rubel Shelly wherein he wrote that the Woodmont Hills Church was helping to promote the Billy Graham crusade which will be held in Nashville in a few months.

Included in the slurp which Shelly wrote was the statement, "with the blessing of our shepherds Rubel Shelly is serving as a General Committee member on behalf of this outreach effort."

We read further from Shelly, "several of our shepherds wrote letters of invitation to Dr. Graham to encourage him to come to our city." Such brazen compromising efforts need to be exposed. One can never find a more two-faced situation than that depicted by Shelly and his shepherds who like to pose as representatives of the church of Christ when Billy comes to town. When not burping with Billy the Baptist, they babble about dropping the expression "church of Christ." Such silliness is why I am prone to state that "liberals never make any sense."

Do the shepherds from Rubel's Family of God(??) agree that Billy Graham teaches the truth? Do they agree that Billy teaches some error? A little error! A lot of error, or no error? How much error will the Shelly shepherds support? Will the Shelly shepherds be selective as to the various and sundry errors which they will condone? How can a shepherd refuse to believe a false tenet, yet encourage the teaching and preaching of the falsehood? Will the Shelly shepherds agree for Rubel to preach the basics of Baptist doctrine at Woodmont Hills? Will the Shelly shepherds support, encourage, assist and promote Billy Graham as he preaches Baptist doctrine during the big campaign and also support, encourage, assist and help Shelly to preach the same things at Woodmont Hills?

Will Shelly's shepherds shepherd Shelly to sally forth and affirm or defend the articles of Calvinism as taught by Billy Graham and other Baptist preachers? Will Shelly's shepherds openly proclaim the Baptist falsehood of total depravity? Will they agree with Billy at the Crusade but disagree with the doctrine at Woodmont Hills? Will Shelly's shepherds agree with Billy in the foolishness of a direct operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion while hob-nobbing at the Graham Crusade but object to such at Woodmont Hills? Will Shelly's shepherds agree with Billy Graham when he preaches salvation by faith alone at the Crusades, but deny the false doctrine at Woodmont Hills? Will Shelly's shepherds agree with Billy when he preaches the impossibility of apostasy at the Crusade, but deny the false doctrine at Woodmont Hills?

I state plainly that in no other area will such contradictory, bungling, inconsistent, two-faced, vacillating, fickleness, irresolute, and flighty disposition be found.

Let no one assert that I do not love good shepherds who know and attend to their duty. I despise the fellow who thinks that his duty as a shepherd is to polish his badge, invite wolves in to devour the flock and substitute a cotton string for backbone.

There have been and still are a great number of misfits who want to hold an office, like the old time Justice-of-the-Peace. It is possible for a shepherd to be...

1. Foolish. God told Zechariah to, "take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd" (Zech. 11:15). Of course the sheep can likewise be foolish but it could be due to foolish shepherds.
   
   
2. A shepherd can be worthless. The Lord spoke against Zechariah and said, "woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock..." (Zech. 11:17). How frequently do we hear of shepherds who turn aside for the golden wedge and Babylonian garment. I can name a few such characters.
   
   
3. The prophet Isaiah described the shepherds of his day as, "...greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" (Isa. 56:11). I will not bear down too heavily on the prophet's comparison of shepherds with greedy dogs, but I cannot say enough about those shepherds who cannot understand. The great problem which looms before the church of Christ is seen in shepherds who absolutely refuse to see, understand and know what the new crop of wolves is hatching out.
   
   
4. It was no compliment when Nahum spoke of the Assyrian shepherds who slumbered (Nahum 3:18). Has this not been our problem down through the ages? Is it not the case that prophets and apostles have warned shepherds and sheep against going to sleep? If there were no dangers, the shepherds might well snooze, but one can hardly watch over the flock while one is asleep.
   
   
5. Sometimes sheep can carelessly wander astray and become lost but it is possible for shepherds to lead the flock astray. Jeremiah wrote, "my people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place" (Jer. 50:6). Would any man called a shepherd lead the flock astray? I have always thought that shepherds were responsible for the flock. When shepherds invite a false teacher to come to the city, they are involved in leading the sheep astray.
   

The unconcern of some shepherds for the flock is seen when Ezekiel wrote, "my sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. As I live saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock. ... Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them" (Ezek. 34:8-10).

I suspect there is more hope for a four-legged sheep than for a two-legged shepherd who refuses to see the terrible situation which has happened to the flock of God. Indeed, "you just can't show some people anything."

There are some commendable traits to be found in honorable shepherds. A worthy shepherd...

1. Pities the sheep (Zech. 11:5). We read where Jehovah declared, "...and their own shepherds pity them not." I thought that one reason for being a shepherd was to show pity to the sheep. How often have we seen just the opposite when a bishop begins to feel superior and looks condescendingly upon others.
   
   
2. The shepherds are to feed the flock (Acts 20:28). What a grave responsibility! The hireling has no interest in the flock but he has tremendous interest in himself.
   
   
3. The shepherds are very careful to keep the flock. Jeremiah said of Jehovah, "He that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock" (Jer. 31:10). Do we not understand the vigilance and care for the flock as shown by the shepherd? Among other things it means to guard the flock against false teachers. I do not believe the liberal shepherds are so dense and demented as not to know truth from error. My conviction is that such creepers have no regard for the truth.
   
   
4. Let us be reminded that God condemned the ancient shepherds because they refused to, "...search for my flock" (Ezek. 34:8). Is a sheep worth searching for when it gets lost? Our Lord thought a sheep was worth dying for in order to save the sheep from a wolf (John 10:11-13). One thing is certain, the liberal hireling shepherd will have to answer to the chief shepherd. The confraternity of liberals will be reaping forever due to being derelict in their duties to the flock.
   

--Wayne Coats, Editor

WOODMONT HILLS AND RUBEL SHELLY BECOME ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS WITH BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE

Rusty Stark


LoveLines is the bulletin for the Woodmont Hills congregation where Rubel Shelly works as minister. The September 29, 1999 issue (Volume 25, Number 29) has an article about the fact that Billy Graham will be holding a crusade in Nashville in the first week of June, 2000. Here are some excerpts from that article.

"By now it is likely that you have heard the news that Billy Graham is planning an evangelistic crusade for Nashville in the spring of next year. This crusade has the potential to be a significant event in the spiritual life of many people in our city." "...Woodmont Hills supports the decision of Dr. Graham and his ministry to be in Nashville." "...It is important for the members of our church family to understand why we will be enthusiastic participants." "Billy Graham presents Jesus Christ as mankind's only hope for eternal life. 'My one purpose in life,' he insists, 'is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which I believe comes through knowing Christ.' If it is right to link arms with other believers to oppose pornography and drugs, surely it cannot be wrong to join with them to preach Christ crucified." "...The Graham crusade will challenge the church in Nashville to reap a harvest of souls to God's glory." "...The invitation to be given each evening will be for persons to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Respondents will then make a self-designating choice to be counseled about the meaning of their decision by people from several different groups. We will be working closely with the campaign effort to advise those who mark 'Church of Christ.' We will also try to contact such persons with a congregation that can administer to them appropriately and help them in their spiritual pilgrimage." "With the blessings of our shepherds, Rubel Shelly is serving as a General Committee Member on behalf of this outreach effort. Several of our shepherds wrote letters of invitation to Dr. Graham to encourage him to come to our city. Training sessions for crusade workers will be hosted on our property. And we ask all of you to pray for the success of this effort to exalt Jesus Christ in our great city."

Far from opposing Billy Graham as a false teacher, this article was written to explain why the Woodmont Hills congregation plans to be "enthusiastic participants." Let's notice three things from this quote.

The usage of the term other "believers" is unfortunate and unscriptural. Acts 5:14 and 1 Timothy 4:12 use the term believer to refer to those who are Christians. Other passages refer to those who believed (Acts 2:44; 4:32). Just the fact that someone believes who Jesus is does not make him a believer. In Matthew 8:29, demons confessed Jesus as God's Son. That didn't make them believers (in the biblical sense of the word).

It is impossible to join with Billy Graham to preach Christ crucified because Billy Graham does not preach Christ crucified -- at least not in the biblical sense of these words. In Acts 8:35, Phillip began to preach to the Treasurer of Ethiopia. Luke records that he preached unto him Jesus. The very next verse presents the Treasurer as asking if something stood in the way of him being baptized. Phillip preached that Jesus' baptism was integral to his message. But according to the Lovelines article, Billy Graham will invite people to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Unfortunately, we all know Billy Graham will not tell people they must be baptized in order to be saved by Jesus. At their website, there is a page on how to become a Christian. It mentions believing, and receiving a free gift from God, but it never mentions baptism. Billy Graham may claim to preach Christ, but he doesn't do so as Phillip the evangelist did.

This LoveLines article reasons that if it is right to link arms with other believers in opposing things like pornography and drugs, surely it cannot be wrong to join with them to preach Christ crucified. The answer to this is simple. It is not right for the Lord's church to link arms with people who are not true believers in opposing sin or in supporting that which is right. Christians can be part of the "right to life" movement. Christians can join community programs designed to keep kids off drugs. But Christians cannot join with religious groups or denominations because joining with them makes us partakers of their evil. Since no denomination has God's authorization, all denominations are sinful (Col. 3:17). False teachers like Billy Graham are to be taken note of and avoided (Rom. 16:17-18). The article uses the term participants, and this is exactly what the word fellowship means. It means sharing or jointly participating. 2 John 9-11 teaches we cannot endorse the false teacher, for in supporting or endorsing him we become partaker of his evil deeds. We cannot support him just in his good, without that endorsement making us partakers of his evil also.

As appealing as he is in his speaking ability, his upright manner of life, etc., Billy Graham is preaching a perverted gospel, and he stands as one who is accursed by God (Gal. 1:6-9). Should we as God's children think that we can stand with such a one and support him and still hope to escape the curse ourselves?

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1495 E Empire Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
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Ted J. Clarke of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas wrote... "Brethren, are you crying? Does your heart ache at this kind of news? We've come a long way from the time one preacher reportedly cried out to Billy Graham in one of his crusades, "Why do you not teach baptism as essential for salvation?" To which Graham reportedly said, "Well, it seems we have a Campbellite among us. Just go on back to your own little group," or words to that effect.

How long, O, Lord?"

[The following article is cited from POWER, a monthly publication of the church of Christ in Southaven, MS. Emph. by D.C.]



THEOLOGICAL DOUBLE-TALK

by B. J. Clarke


The word "double-talk" is defined by Webster as meaning "a language that appears to be earnest and meaningful but in fact is a mixture of sense and nonsense: inflated, involved and often deliberately ambiguous language." There is a growing tendency of prominent preachers among us to engage in theological double-talk. When questioned about a statement that they made in an article or public speech, these brethren reply in evasive terms and employ deliberately ambiguous language to avoid being "pinned down" with a certain position and its attendant consequences. When a request is made for further clarification about something that they have said or written, these brethren will often reply in some coy or sarcastic matter in an attempt to cloud the issue and to avoid accountability for the implications of their statement. Some refuse to reply at all and state that they will simply not discuss previously written or recorded statements. This makes one wonder what these brethren are trying to hide.

Why won’t some brethren just be honest and lay their cards out on the table for all the brotherhood to see? It is time to quit playing "word games" and engaging in semantic gymnastics. Such tactics bring real meaning to the Lord’s warning that false teachers would manifest themselves in sheep’s clothing to hide what they really are (Matt 7:15). It is time for plain talk! It is time to eliminate confusing ambiguities from our writings and sermons! It is time to read from the book of the law of God distinctly, to give the sense and to cause our hearers and readers to understand (Neh. 8:8; Eph. 3:3-5). It is time to make our message so plain that he may run that readeth it (Hab. 2:2). An anxious and concerned brotherhood is trying to sort out the bewildering and confusing messages that are being promoted by preachers of the day. We must not further "muddy the waters" by not being forthright about where we stand on the problems that face the church today. Let us speak forth loudly, clearly, certainly and lovingly. Remember that a doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). Let us eliminate theological double-talk from our pulpits, papers and conversations. Our lost and dying world needs a clear, distinct and certain message. Will we proclaim it?

Wow!
You guys had a busy weekend.

Everybody on the bandwagon.
Let's bash these guys all we can.
Let's avoid looking in the mirror at our own miserable state.
Let's ignore the failings of our faith in this world, and lay the blame at the feet of others.

The mentality of this sight, or lack of it, whichever you prefer, is one that points to others as the reason for our spiritual plight.

Well, you are the very reason the church is in decline.
You can refute it, argue about it, call me a liberal, but please behold the mote in your own eye....
Until we have mastered the art of soul-saving I could care less about what you think, or why you think it.
Frankly, you seem to gain great pleasure in writing to one another...

Do you not have church families that you are responsible for?
Do you not have members this very moment that could use your prayers, or a visit?
Is there not someone in your community that needs to here
about Jesus?
Is there not a marriage falling apart that needs your wise council?
Is there not a widow, and orphan, or someone less fortunate that needs a cup of water, or a shirt?

Why then, do you give them a rock?

Put down your pens, and pick up your car keys, and let the dust settle to the ground.
There is nothing you can say about Max Lucado, Billy Graham,
Rubel Shelley, Doug Cope, and the rest of us that hasn't already been said...

So, get a life, or better yet, try and save one.
Then get together, and talk about that...

It has always been the habit of "christians" that have very little going on in their lives to talk about those who are actually doing something.

There was an article in the daily paper in Nashville this week about an empty church building in east Nashville that
once was a thriving Church of Christ....
Apparently it is stilled owned by the members.
In it today, crack dealers, prostitutes, and every other form of evil exists.
Interesting footnote to it's history don't you think?
I'm afraid the only difference between it and many of us,
is it no longer veils the bankruptcy of its soul.
It is in plain view.

So the church has to decide whether it will become a footnote in religious history or the bride it called to be.

So little beavers keep gathering sticks and building those dams of fear, hate, and jealousy.
Feel good about yourselves, and the work you are doing.

Just remember the branches you are gathering are dead.

Robin Guidicy

[The following article is cited from the website of the church of Christ in Southaven, MS. Emphases by Donnie Cruz]


COYOTES, WOLVES, AND SHEEP

by Sean Hochdorf


A coyote as defined by Webster is a "small wolf"1 The word coyote cannot be found in the Bible. Even in the perverted New International Version [the approved and authorized Bible version used at the Madison Church of Christ, d.c.], the word coyote cannot be found. And yet if one were to travel past the Goodman Oaks Church of Christ this week he will notice that their marquis boldly states "Killing coyotes doesn’t feed the sheep". This is a sad attempt to say that warning the flock about false teachers won’t provide any spiritual food to the flock of God. However, man’s words and God’s Word are two different matters. Let’s briefly note what the Bible has to say about "Killing Coyotes"

As the apostle Paul was addressing the Ephesian elders at the island of Miletus he gave them very clear warning that troubles were coming. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears"(Acts 20:28-31). Apparently the inspired apostle Paul didn't know that "Killing coyotes doesn't feed the sheep." Paul makes it clear that it is the responsibility of the elders (vs 17), the bishops (vs 28), the shepherds (vs 28)2, all terms describing the work of the elders, "to feed the church of God." Paul tells them that they are to do this by watching for "grievous wolves" that will "enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Robertson defines this term "grievous wolves" as those who are "heavy, rapacious, harsh"3, Webster states that wolves are "...crafty, rapacious, and very destructive to game, sheep, and cattle."4 Could anyone imagine a shepherd feeding, loving, and caring for his flock of sheep only to sit back and watch a wolf come in and devour them? It is said of a shepherd that his work was,

...attended with much hardship and even danger. He was exposed to the extremes of heat and cold (Gen 31:40); his food frequently consisted of the precarious supplies afforded by nature, such as the fruit of the "sycamore," or Egyptian fig (Amos 7:14), the "husks" of the carob-tree (Luke 15:16), or perchance the locusts and wild honey which supported the Baptist (Matt. 3:4); He had to encounter the attacks of wild beasts, occasionally of the larger species, such as lions, wolves, panthers, and bears (1 Sam. 17:34; Isa. 31:4; Jer. 5:6; Amos 3:12); nor was he free from the risk of robbers or predatory hordes...5

The amount of care that the shepherd gave to his sheep is also of interest,

in the morning he led forth his flock from the fold, which he did by going before them and calling to them, as is still usual in the East; arrived at the pasturage, he watched the flock with the assistance of dogs, and, should any sheep stray, he had to search for it until he found it; he supplied them with water...at evening he brought them back to the fold, and reckoned them to see that none were missing, by passing by them...as they entered the door of the enclosure, checking each sheep as it passed by a motion of the hand; and finally, he watched the entrance of the fold throughout the night, acting as porter...great responsibility attached to the office; for the chief shepherd had to make good all losses; at the same time he had a personal interest in the flock, inasmuch as he was not paid in money, but received a certain amount of the produce.6

It is no mystery what wolves do to sheep. It is clear that the wolves spoken of by Paul are false teachers. Jesus warned during his time on earth that there would be false teachers that would raven the fold (John 10:12). In fact the Lord pointed out the purpose of the false teacher when he said "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:.."(John 10:10) . The false teacher will destroy the body of Christ if he goes unchecked (1 Cor. 5:6). Think of the damage that has been done by men like John Calvin or Martin Luther. Had their false doctrine been snuffed out when it was being promulgated the tone of the entire religious world would be different today. If the false doctrine of today being promulgated by Rubel Shelly, Mike Cope, Ken Joines, "and such like", is not dealt with it will only cause the loss of more souls. Brethren, the apostle Paul has made it clear that not only does killing coyotes feed the sheep but it also allows the sheep to eat of that spiritual feast another day.

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ENDNOTES

1. Webster’s Seventh New Nollegiate Dictionary, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, Chicago IL., 1972, 193.
2. Word Pictures in the New Testament, Archibald Thomas Robertson, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI., 1930, 352-53.
3. Ibid, 353.
4. Webster, 1027.
5. Cyclopedia of Biblical, theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, John McClintock & James Strong, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI., 1970, IX-666.
6. Ibid, IX-666.