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PREVENTIVE MEDICINE FOR YOUR CONGREGATION

March 14 2004 at 2:49 AM		   (no login)
from IP address 166.90.116.194
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 premillennial 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.

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


    
This message has been edited by ConcernedMembers from IP address 67.32.220.93 on Mar 14, 2004 2:01 PM


 
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67.25.36.168

GOOD RIDDANCE

March 16 2004, 2:44 AM 

GOOD RIDDANCE



I recently heard that a Muslim cleric left America for his Middle-Eastern place of origin. He was unhappy with our government's efforts at homeland security following last year's attack by Muslim terrorists. I did not anguish over his departure nor beg him to stay. In fact, I was glad to hear the news. He was not a loyal sympathetic American. His values were not ours. He despised the great principles of freedom and liberty we cherish. He had neither part nor lot with us. America is better and safer now that he is gone.

Just two weeks ago I read that a professor/preacher of the change movement had left the Church of Christ and assumed a ministerial post in a denominational church. Sad as that may seem, the published writings of this brother indicated that he did not share the essential, basic, fundamental faith of those known as churches of Christ. He was a denominationalist at heart and in theology. Among us, training our young people, he would only do harm to the Cause we love.

There are many more like him. Men who have made shipwreck of the faith (I Tim. 1:19); who are yet working among us, not to build up and strengthen the church but to shame and ridicule her past, her former leaders, her ancient forms of worship, her sacred doctrine. The sooner they are recognized and rejected; the sooner they too depart, the better it will be for the Lord's church.

Faced with the departure of some of his brethren, the apostle John wrote, "They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us" (I John 2:19). Weep not brethren, when such folks make their exit, rather thank God that they are gone. May the Lord hasten the day when church is free of all such men who no longer cherish the old paths of New Testament Christianity!

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


    
This message has been edited by ConcernedMembers from IP address 67.32.206.24 on Mar 16, 2004 9:45 AM


 
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(Login Donnie.Cruz)
ConcernedMembersMadison
68.19.237.240

AN APPEAL TO CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE DEALERS

January 7 2005, 2:22 AM 

AN APPEAL TO CHRISTIAN BOOK DEALERS



As the church struggles to preserve her Christ-ordained faith, worship and practices in the face of relentless pressure imposed by the promoters of change, she needs the help of every disciple. Across the nation are scores of books stores operated by fellow-Christians. It is to those who manage such establishments these thoughts are addressed.

Your help is needed to provide our brethren access to books, tracts and classroom materials that emphasize the fundamentals of the faith and respond to the errors of the change movement. Brethren need to know what is available for their study on these topics. Sadly, many stores stock little, if any, material that deals with doctrinal or controversial matters. We concede that such materials are not "fast turnover" items. They will never generate large volumes of income. But they are essential to the survival of the church.

The fact that one operates a "Christian bookstore" implies that the owner and operator are "Christians." As Christians, they should love the Lord's church supremely. Their business exists to serve the church and Christians. So I plead with you to stock and display copies of those valuable books that address the current challenges facing us. Do so because you love Christ and want to see his church prosper...because her survival is important to you. God will bless you for your help to his Cause.

The following are some of the titles that our brethren need to know about so they can use them to fortify their faith:
  • A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church, Everett Ferguson
  • Women in the Church, Everett Ferguson
  • Change Agents and Churches of Christ, William Woodson
  • Koinonia, A Contemporary Study of Church Fellowship, Jimmy Jividen
  • More Than a Feeling, Worship that Pleases God, Jimmy Jividen
  • Adrift, Postmodernism in the Church, Phil Sanders
  • The Spirit of Liberalism, Frank Chesser
  • The Church in Transition to What? James D. Bales
  • Instrumental Music and New Testament Worship, J. D. Bales
  • Worship: Life's Greatest Moments, Owen Olbricht
  • Directions for the Road Ahead: Stability in the Change Among Churches of Christ, Jim Sheerer and Charles Williams
  • The Cultural Church, F. LaGard Smith
  • Great Bible Doctrines, Walter Swain
  • Redeeming the Times, Addressing (Issues of the Church in the Present Age) , R. Dyer, T. Haynes & J. Jenkins.
  • Piloting the Strait, Dave Miller
  • Books About the Change Movement: Reviews and Recommendations, John Waddey
  • Surviving the Storms of Change, John Waddey
  • Search for the Ancient Order (four Volumes) by Earl West
  • Excellent tracts by James Tolle and Glenn McCoy are available on many of the items of faith that are being challenged by the promoters of change.
These books are all in print and need to be displayed where Christian shoppers will see them and have opportunity to consider purchasing them. No matter how helpful a book may be, it will accomplish nothing if brethren do not know of its existence. A timely word encouraging a customer to look at one of them might be the cause of his taking it home to read. In time of war, every loyal citizen of the nation will pitch in and do his/her part to help save the nation from her enemies. In the church it should be no different.

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

 
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Anonymous
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67.140.120.136

a descriptive list

January 7 2005, 8:47 PM 

Sir
Your list of books very well detail your denomination's creed.

 
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(no login)
68.154.169.26

Re: a descriptive list (by Anonymous, January 7 2005, 8:47 PM)

January 9 2005, 5:14 AM 

Sir/Madam/Anonymous:

What is your definition of a “denomination’s creed”? You see, I have heard or read about the Athanasian Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Catechism, etc.

”The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church consists of 33 “chapters”—including Chapter XXIII “Of the Sacraments”; Chapter XXXI “Of Synods and Councils.”

There is the “Presbyterian Creed Revision” adopted from a report of a committee in The Presbyterian General Assembly. It consists of 16 “articles”—including “Article XIV—Of the Church and the Sacraments.”

There is the “Methodist Book of Discipline” comprised of 25 “articles”—including “Article XIV—Of Purgatory” [which, fortunately for students of God’s Word, explains the following: “The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.”]; “Article XVI—Of the Sacraments”; “Article XXII—Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches.”

Those are a few of the world’s denominational creeds … needless to say. You are one person, I know, who knows what a denominational creed is—this is explained below.

With all due respect, Mr. Farmer, your familiarity with what the New Testament church believes, teaches and practices is obvious. Please don’t even attempt to deceive members of the church you “grew up” in into believing that the NT church has a “denominational creed”; otherwise, you would be able [“in the twinkling of an eye”] to quote the name or title of the creed.

By asserting that the list of books written by various authors details a “denominational creed,” you owe members of the church you left (and despise and disagree with) an explanation. You see … you’re not being honest by telling us only how that the church needs to be reformed or transformed without telling us the “denomination” you’re now affiliated with.

Donnie

BTW, Tim, I can provide you a list of books authored by your beloved change agents, if you’re interested. I wonder if [using your own words] that “list of books very well details your [Tim Farmer’s] denomination’s creed.”

 
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...........................THE BOOK

What Happened At the Madison Church of Christ?


There are thousands of churches being taken over across America.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is the list of players;

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

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