-----Original Message-----
From: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com [JOHNWADDEY@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 1:45 PM
To:DonnieCruz@msn.com
Subject: CHRISTIANITY: THEN AND NOW, J. Waddey's Report for July, 04


CHRISTIANITY: THEN AND NOW

Report for July 2004


Dear Friend and Supporter of Christianity: Then and Now:

Thank you for making it possible for us to publish and mail Christianity: Then and Now to the preachers and elders of over 5,000 congregations this month. Without your support our outreach would be pitifully small.

For your information, when compiling our mailing list, we gather the addresses of congregations that identify themselves as part of the mainstream of the church. Those congregations that consider themselves as part of a separate fellowship such as "One Cup, or No Bible Classes," we omit. We do this because as a rule they are not interested in the health or success of our congregations. Sadly some of them rejoice when they read of our problems. Also we do not mail those congregations with less than 15 members. This is based on our financial limitations. The tiny churches are not generally bothered by the promoters of change.

• We are now mailing the paper to all the targeted congregations in California. This brings the number of states where we reach all the congregations to 39.
  
  
• This month we have sent the bound volumes of the first three years of CTN to the libraries of 20 of our Colleges, Universities and Schools of Preaching. There are twelve other schools we need to mail. For $100 we can send those remaining. Our logic in this is to get the materials into the schools where Bible teachers and prospective preachers can have access to them. Most schools will place such materials in their collections since they are bound and because they address a current point of discussion in the brotherhood.
  
  
• We need to have an accurate understanding of how widespread is infection of the virus of change that is plaguing our churches. To arrive at that I have been working on a survey or opinion poll that we could mail with a future issue of CTN. Since we are now reaching approximately half of our congregations here in the states, we hopefully could get a fair reading of what our church leaders are thinking. I am hoping to find someone who is skilled in polling and statistical research to help with this project.
  
  
• As the change movement gathers momentum, every responsible Christian leader will need to exercise great caution in the speakers they invite to their congregations; the workshops and youth meetings they recommend to their members and the people they employ to work with their congregations. It would be helpful if we had some knowledge of those who have chosen to abandon the old fashioned ways of God's Word for the new ways of man. From their own literature I have begun collecting a list of congregations, preachers and teachers who have declared themselves part of the change movement. Our goal is to build a fire wall around those who are promoting this movement so it will not spread any farther.
  
  
• One venue for spreading the doctrine of "change" has been "The Christian Scholars Conference" conducted by some of our highly educated men. These conferences are generally held in connection with some of our larger universities. We have many good men among us who have attained a high degree of scholarship without compromising their faith in the Scripture and their love for the church. I have sent out exploratory letters to a number of brethren who are truly "Christian" scholars, encouraging them to consider the possibility of organizing a conference or lectureship where those who address the topics chosen will search for God's answers as revealed in his Word. Such a gathering would be a healthy alternative to the current Scholars Conference and it would serve to encourage those faithful men who find themselves in lonely situations in schools where such faithfulness is not considered to be "in season." The research these believing scholars would do and the materials they would produce could be of great value in our effort to educate brethren about the errors and dangers of the change movement.
  
  
• It is most interesting that the change movement is not just affecting our brotherhood. Many Protestant bodies are also feeling the pressure of this movement. In large part it is the practical application of the Church Growth Movement that is the current fad among churches. The two principal sources of this movement are the Willow Creek Church of Illinois and the Saddleback (Baptist) Church of Orange County, California. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek and Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church have both created nationwide programs to recruit and involve the leaders of any congregation (regardless of affiliation) in their Church Growth Movement...for a small sum. A reader has directed my attention to a website called "Christian Unplugged" which can be accessed at:
  
  http://www.christianunplugged.com/church_growth_intro.htm
  
  that provides excellent, insightful articles regarding the teaching and methods of the CGM and its theoreticians. As you read it you will discover that our promoters of change have swallowed the package, hook, line and sinker.
  

Just this week I received a copy of an article written by Bro. Oscar Alvarez Aleman of Cuba. This brother finds some of the same doctrines and practices of the change agents at work among a few of his preaching brothers in that struggling mission field. Among the problems he sees are a willingness to fellowship denominational churches and the belief that it is somehow wrong to reprove those who embrace error.

We regret to report that the Shannon Oaks church in Sulphur Springs, Texas has abandoned the Biblical standard and warmly embraced the errors of the change movement. Lest you think we are gossiping, you are encouraged to go to the website of their preacher, Jeff Jenkins and read as he tells you about the changes they have made. Access him at http://www.jeffjenkins.blogspot.com. Open the different pages and read for yourself.

Long ago, a poet wrote that "God works in mysterious ways his will to perform." While few Christians have shown a willingness to invest in this effort on behalf of the church, a lady who is not a member of the body, has been sending regular contributions to help us. Because of her support we will soon be able to add a significant number of additional Tennessee Churches to our mailings.

We are happy to report that the Pineview congregation in Lewis County Tennessee recently had Bro. Alan Highers to give a series of lessons addressing the challenges of the change movement. The meeting was advertised throughout Lewis and surrounding counties and will surely help to solidify the faith of those who heard him.

Unfortunately we have lost two major supporters in the last few months. Both faced circumstances and demands on their funds that made it impossible for them to continue. Thus far we have be able to maintain all that we were doing. This however is rapidly depleting our reserves. Unless we find some additional helpers in the near future we will have to drop significant numbers from our mailing list. If you can do more to help, please do so. Perhaps you could recruit others to help us. Remember that for each $1.00 we receive each month, we are able to print and mail two copies of the paper to the preachers and elders of two congregations. We need to be mailing every church in the brotherhood...another 5,000. With your help we can do it. Checks should be made to the Church of Christ and mail to my address below. Your gifts are tax deductible. Please don't let a day pass without praying for the welfare of Christ's church and for our efforts on her behalf.

Yours in Christ,


John Waddey, editor
12630 W. Foxfire Dr.
Sun City West, AZ 85375
Ph. (623) 214-3715
Email: johnwaddey@aol.com

So now you are PEDDLING your religious porn on this website??? How could anyone consider PAYING you to spread your lies and deceit? I think that this is INCREDIBLY low of you Mr. Waddey. I disagreed with you, but thought you an honorable man. Now I disagree with you and think that you are simply an man that wants to make a buck on the discord that you sow. SAD.

JD

JD, as I read your posts in various forums here, I detect anger, venom, and hostility toward others with whom you disagree. You criticize and complain, moan and gnash your teeth, yet you continue to visit this site. Could you contribute something a bit more substantial, maybe post an essay about your religious convictions? Tell us, with appropriate biblical references, just why the Church should change.

JD,

There’s no need to get excited about the “PEDDLING.” I’m the one who received the e-mail and posted it with emphases on a number of very important points that you obviously ignored. Keep in mind, JD, that the letter was addressed to anyone who is a “dear friend and supporter of Christianity: Then and Now”—including through prayers. Since it was not addressed to you, your concern is not expected. We know what and whom you are supporting—the Community Church Movement and its agents. The change agents are the ones sowing discord left and right—not the ones who wish the agents would start their own from scratch, instead of subverting existing peaceful congregations.

Don’t worry about wasting your hard-earned buck—send it to your preferred cause instead. Or, use it to subscribe to Rubel Shelly’s “Grace Centered Magazine” or to purchase Rick Warren’s “purpose-driven” books or Max Lucado’s manual on how to become a transBaptist.

Finally, thank you for being the first respondent to this thread. That automatically qualified you as a subscriber of the religious porn on this website.

Donnie

just out of curiosity... if it was addressed to "dear friend and supporter of Christianity: Then & Now", then why was it even posted on this website? If I know my letter-writing etiquette correctly, then this letter would have been sent to its appropriate audience without having to be posted on a website that has no merit. If you are a friend and supporter, you would have received the letter. Most of the people that read this are not friends and supporters, so why did you post it? To me, it seems like you just wanted to elicit a response. Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

You are right, Jeremy, this site has absolutely no merit for those who are determined to change the Church to suit their own purposes, to alter biblical doctrine to suit their needs, and to make worship services more entertaining through worldly gimmicks to attract more members. It is a useless site for you and others like "JD," H. Roberson, and Chai. If you find it revolting, even "pornographic," as JD believes, then why do you waste your time here?

Your statement, "Most of the people that read this [site] are not friends and supporters [of 'Christianity: Then and Now']" is certainly wishful thinking. But neither you nor I have the faintest clue how many Concerned Members readers actually support CTN. But I do know that the Concerned Members web site receives thousands of hits per day. And if those thousands have the opportunity to be exposed to CTN, then perhaps the message of the atrocities of the Change Movement will reach even more people and prepare them to cast this pollution from their churches.

Yes, the fires have been called down by numerous professors, preachers and the Zoe Group. Zoe, you know, is clearly Lucifer who is well defined in the New Testament POINTERS as Shelly's S.U.N. god rather than the S.O.N. God. As in the Hebrew he/she is ambidextrous and connects directly to MUSIC and Heresy which uses exciting ODEING to lift up your property or self and take them away for their OWN USE. She/he is connected to THEATRON which is a Harding "team." Theatron connects directly to... Well, JD knows. External odeing in the EXCITING sense connects directly to HERESY.

John Waddey quotes the Bible in context. Therefore he is a PROPHET. When you "teach that which has been taught" and are able to say "thus saith the Lord" you are prophesying in the SPIRITUAL sense. When you sing and get "excited" you are "prophesying" in the sense of Lord, Lord saying and God does not even know your name or take note of you. This is called speaking in tongues which is the singing of the LOCUSTS under Apollo or Abaddon or Apollyon. Charis, you knew from which we get Charismatic, means GRACE in the world's sense which means musical and perverted. God's GRACE gives us REST which includes "Stop the speaking, stop the singing, stop the sorcery."

When the Jews LIFTED up holy hands when speaking or praying they were "holding" the Bible in their spirit. When they spoke that which was written they understood that God was speaking. That is why Jesus is our ONLY Teacher but only if you teach what He taught. You see: He is God and we are not.

If you CURSE John Waddey for doing this you are CURSING God in fact and you have fallen from Grace and THERE IS NO REMEDY. In the book of Enoch, Jubilees and Adam and Eve and three dozen other posted documents, when the faithful fell under Satan's 'music' and sexual perversion they had FALLEN AND COULD NEVER GET UP. Their "new style worship" was to try to gain converts to make themselves feel cozy knowing that God would come with ten thousand of His saints.

John has reviewed Jeff Childers who is ACU's proof text to deny what they clearly OUTED at their "workshop of evil."

http://www.piney.com/ACU.Childers.Aquino.html

Ken Sublett

Ken your quote

"If you Curse John Waddley for doing this you are cursing God, in fact you have fallen from grace and THERE IS NO REMEDY. "

This statement friend is a falsehood. Any attack on another Christian I disagree with as well, but to say "you have fallen from grace and THERE is NO REMEDY",

is to place yourself in the seat which only Christ will occupy, that is to judge men in the final day.


1) The Bible states you may say an accusation against the Son of man and it can be forgiven, but the only unforgivable sin is the rejection of the Holy Spirit.

2) And there is a remedy for an offense that is Confession and repentance.

The prodigal son left in sin and returned to his fathers open arms.

The Bible says He who can cut off a branch can graft it back in again.

I just hope others who believe they are saved by the grace of God see the error in your statement.

You have cursed a person with this statement and I'm not sure you even know it.

Of course confession and repentance is the remedy.

Holy is not the first name of a 1/3 God named "Holy Spirit." God is Holy Spirit where holy means pure as in 100% pure soap. God as Spirit hath not flesh and bones. Therefore, God is WHOLLY Spirit: nothing but Spirit. This means that when God the "father" or thought speaks as the "son" or Word what results is totally SPIRIT. Spirit means the mental disposition of a person unless they ARE God.

The body was prepared for the indwelling of full Deity. Therefore, Jesus said:

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? John 6:62

It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE. John 6:63

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou host the words of ETERNAL LIFE. Jo.6:68

Heresy is not my right to go worship without musical instruments as they ALL claim or infer. Heresy means to make a choice to lift you up with singing in order to use you for their on fun and profit. That is why they now hallucinate that they are PROFITS.

And if any man shall take away from the WORDS of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rye.22:19

That is because this and all predictions and teachings are the SPIRIT of Christ.

Jesus made it plain that as Son He spoke the thoughts of the Father whom He said was with Him or within Him:

And he that seeth ME seeth him that sent me. John 12:45

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me SHOULD not abide in darkness. John 12:46

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:47

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Jn.12:48

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. John 12:49

And I know that his commandment is LIFE EVERLASTING: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. John 12:50

If John Waddey quotes the WORDS of Christ which ARE Spirit and Life and someone calls it PORN then that person has claimed that the Eternal God is porn. If John Waddey makes a mistake the mature thing to do with the total endorsement of Jesus Christ is test the spirits and repudiate him which IS the meaning of worship. After all, it is Spiritual warfare against principalities and powers in high places. Paul said that our weapons are not CARNAL WEAPONS or LIFELESS INSTRUMENTS. Music was ALWAYS a weapon and never for worship. These people claim to be fighting mental or rational or spiritual beings by USING lifeless instruments while denying that the Words of Christ are the SWORD (weapon, instrument) of the Spirit

As an example, Bible scholars have always been aware that Paul never speaks of the spirit as a separate person. In fact, in 1 Cor 2 Paul equates the Holy Spirit to the Mind of Christ.

Therefore, to blaspheme the SPIRIT means to speak evil of the Words of Christ which ARE Spirit and Life. In the 'singing' passages Paul equates "that which is written" (Rom 15), the "Spirit" (Eph 5) and the Word of Christ (Col 3:16). When we speak that which is written the SPIRIT speaks as fully as if Jesus were present. If we deny that testimony then judgment is based on the WORD. This is not mysterious: the WORDS prophesy and relate the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. If we deny the WORD the house falls and THERE IS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS.

Jesus said:

And beginning with Moses (Genesis and forward) and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Lk 24:27

Paul said:

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 2 Cor 3:15

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the VAIL shall be taken away. 2 Cor 3:16

Now the Lord IS that Spirit: and where the Spirit OF the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Cor 3:17

When people in high places deny the Word God sends them strong delusions so that they believe a lie and are damned. I don't grasp it but God does not fool around: if they reject the words of the disciples they reject Christ and you must wipe the dust off. Those who refuse the Light of the Word are blind or they assuredly would not pay an obscene salary for someone to tell them that he is PARTNERING with God to get a new set of WORDS which the Spirit just couldn't shoehorn into the Bible two thousand years ago. So convenient for those teaching "whole life discipleship."

Peter said:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pet 1:11

John said:

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10

Falling away meant, to Jews, that they rejected the commandments of God in order to keep the traditions of men (Mk 7:9). This does not speak to those who have sinned or have strayed from the path--it speaks to those who have deliberately rejected the Word of God:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, He 6:4

Impossible does not mean hard;

Adunatos (g102) ad-oo'-nat-os; from 1 (as a neg. particle) and 1415; unable, i.e. weak (lit. or fig.); pass. impossible: - could not do, impossible, impotent, not possible, weak.

The word impossible should never be made to mean hard:

That by two immutable things, in which it was IMPOSSIBLE for God to LIE, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Heb.6:18

Paul continues to lay the conditions for apostasy:

And have tasted the good WORD of God, and the powers of the world to come, He 6:5

Tasted speaks of the Word of God as food and water:

Geuomai (g1089) ghyoo'-om-ahee; a prim. verb; to taste; by impl. to eat; fig. to experience (good or ill): - eat, taste.

Paul continued:

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they CRUCIFY to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. He 6:6

God the WORD means that the invisible Deity speaks to us by His Son or the body in which He dwelled fully but having laid aside His glory and majesty which we could not endure. Jesus said that the FATHER (within) gave the Words to the SON and He spoke them. The result was the MIND OF CHRIST which is the HOLY SPIRIT and VERY Spirit Words. The whole church is under a demonic fog where everyone wants to deny the Words of God and Christ and "work out" a new set of truth DEFINED by our CULTURE and its definition of words.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Heb 12:28

For our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29

The Lucifer principle (the singing and harp-playing prostitute) wants to get us PLEASURED and EXCITED so he/she can LIFT US UP to carry us away. I don't see how these people can be forgiven for forgetting that God is God and we are NOT. This is why the WORD has always been treated with reverence as it is THE VERY SPIRIT words of God or Christianity has NO meaning and people should get OFF the beast. Paul defined worship as GIVING HEED to the Words of Christ. We worship whatever we give heed to. Worship is holding the thought and thoughts of God in our spirit which is out mind. Anyone who becomes part of the STRAIT or crowding around the gate is anti-Biblical and anti-Christ the word.

Peter further explained that the Living Word is that which can be preached or dialoged:

But the WORD of the Lord ENDURETH (Lives) for ever. And this is the WORD which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:25

Rhema (g4487) hray'-mah; from 4482; an utterance a matter or topic, narration, command or dispute)

Rheo (g4482) ... to flow ("run", as water): - flow

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart, mind) shall flow rivers of living water. Jn.7:38

WHEREFORE laying aside all malice, and all guile, and HYPOCRISIES, and envies, and all evil speakings, 1 Peter 2:1

As newborn babes, desire the sincere MILK of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2

If so be ye have TASTED that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:3

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, DISALLOWED indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 1 Peter 2:4

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, an holy priesthood, to offer up SPIRITUAL sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

Yes, that means that Musical Worship Teams cannot take the place of Jesus Christ to "bring you into the presence of God." That oding intends to LIFT YOU UP to carry you away for their OWN use and abuse.

Hebrews 12 says that we should CRUCIFY or burn up our bodies before we can worship spiritually or rationally. We should understand that when Paul defined the INSPIRED TEXT for teaching he did not blaspheme the Spirit Who said:

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. Is.57:19

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Heb. 13:13

For here have we no continuing city (massing), but we seek one to come. Heb. 13:14

By him therefore let US offer the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Heb.13:15

You simply CANNOT do that if we do a PRAISE SERVICE as a pagan ritual for a few minutes out of the week. We praise God continually ONLY if we use the words which He has given us because they are SPIRIT and LIFE. I believe that such theatrical performance which INTENTIONALLY rejects the Words of a Holy God in order to attract people using human songs SPITS out the words of God because they don't TASTE good (dull) has denied the SPIRIT which God in Christ put into His written word. Don't every try to DANCE with God because He is a consuming fire. Don't claim the Spirit is God's song writer and dance master for God is a consuming fire. And, I believe that we see these people being consumed

The SECT of the hypocrites were not just mistaken: they were rhetoricians, sophists, singers, musicians and CRAFTSMEN. Craftsmen speaks directly to the HOUSES built for theaters and the machinery of the stage. They will all be destroyed according to Revelation 18. A singer or "performance" preacher is a HYPOCRITE: actor. A musical worship team are SECTARIAN hypocrites.

I claim that this, and lots more evidence, is the Spirit of God because the thought of the wholesale MOCKING of Jesus and His Word just makes me tremble all over. Just like the first advent, we have let the doctors of the law (issuing out tidbits to us) take away the KEY to knowledge. In God's world the SEVEN SPIRITS represented by the lampstand are all related to justice and knowledge about God. I say that most lamps have been removed and people walk in the dark: singing just like wandering through the cemetary at midnight (been there, done that).

Ken

Friend,

What is that man doing that is different from you ?

I have seen many men on here proclaim the Gospel of grace
through faith as is proclaimed in scripture,

and you roundly condemn it, as if it is a foreign language
and not thouroughly Biblical. It is Biblical.

Again, I disagree with his wording and his motive and I
thouroughly disagree with the Church Growth Movement, which
this site was started to expose.

But, to tell another person who may have not even been born again
they have fallen from grace and there is no remedy, when they may
have never even started a walk with the Lord yet, is unacceptable.

Any correction should be done graciously and seasoned with salt, no
matter how wrong or blatant the offense.

This person may need to know the Lord, and repentence from sin and
turning to the Lord, for HIS, the Lord's, imputed righteousness is the first step.

Our righteous standing with God will never come from the things that we do but the thing that Christ did, live a perfect life thus fullfilling the law, that enabled the perfect One to die as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Thats what he needs to know.

I guess you call this a ministry?

You don't have a clue about what's happening at Shannon Oaks Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Thanks for the complement though - any form of criticism from a ministry like this is a complement in my opinion.

-----Original Message-----
From: JOHNWADDEY@aol.com [JOHNWADDEY@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2004 1:34 PM
To: [E-Mailing List]
Subject: A Lesson to Fortify Your Faith, J. Waddey, Christianity: Then & Now

Dear Fellow-Christian:

I urge you to take a moment to read this lesson and then forward to other Christians on your email list. The Cause of Christ is under attack throughout the nation. Working together we can protect her from those who would harm her. John Waddey

LOYALTY TO THE SCRIPTURES


God has spoken to us in the pages of our Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2). To be loyal to the Father we must be loyal to His divine book. The word "loyalty" suggests that one is "unswerving in allegiance, faithful to a cause, ideal or custom" (Webster). Because one is loyal he will "Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23). He will honor God by speaking his word faithfully (Jeremiah 23:28). A loyal saint will contend for the faith (Jude 3) and defend the gospel (Philippians 1:16). Being loyal we will pledge ourselves to God's word as did David:


"Oh how I love thy law" (Psalms 119:97)
"I will never forget thy precepts" (Psalms 119:93)
"I shall keep thy law; yea I shall observe it with my whole heart" (Psalms 119:34)
"I will speak of thy testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame (Psalms 119:46)


While every brother would loudly amen the above sentiments, observation tells us that not all mean the same thing when they speak of loyalty to the Word.

I. Some are loyal to the black, leather-bound book in a blind, emotional way. This loyalty is fighting-strong yet fuzzy and nebulous in content. For in addition to the divine truths recorded in the book they are fiercely loyal to their opinions about the Bible. They are loyal to interpretations of the Scriptures, hallowed by long use, even though they are incorrect. Even if it means denying the obvious context or the lexical meaning of a word, they will be loyal to the traditional view of a verse.

While loyalty is a commendable virtue and essential to salvation, blind loyalty is like blind faith. Only truth can make one free from error (John 8:32). Even as zeal without knowledge led the Jews into opposition to the faith of Jesus (Romans 10:2-3), so loyalty without proper knowledge will often set a man at variance with the truth of the gospel.

II. God would have us be loyal to his word, correctly understood. Catholics interpret Matthew 16:18 to say that Peter is the foundation of the church. While I am totally loyal to Matthew 16:18, I know the foundation is Christ (I Corinthians 3:11).

Our loyalty is tested when we learn that the Bible's true message differs from the brotherhood's traditional understanding of it. A loyal Christian is willing to adjust his views if his interpretation is found to be deficient. Paul provides us just such an example: "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:7). But when he learned his error, he tells us, "I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision..." (Acts 26:19). This should be our attitude toward every new truth we learn.

God's great doctrines do not need irrational, unsound, faulty interpretations or arguments to defend them. They have a more noble strength and foundation than that. The apostles never stooped to use "cunningly devised fables when (they) made known... the power and coming of (the) Lord Jesus..." (II Peter 1:16), nor should we.

To cling to an argument we know is not valid is a form of intellectual dishonesty. When our adversaries discover it, not only will they laugh us to scorn, even our sound arguments will have less impact on their hearts. They will assume that all of our arguments are likewise defective. However, even if the opponent never caught us mishandling the Scriptures, the omniscient God who searches the minds and hearts would see us and hold us accountable.

Change agents seek to discredit the church and her preachers by suggesting that our faith and practice are based on preference and tradition rather than Scripture properly understood. Let all of God's children "Give diligence to present (themselves) approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

John Waddey

____________________________________
Permission is granted to use any of these weekly lessons in bulletins or as handouts. JHW

More studies regarding the Change Movement and Churches of Christ can be found @ http://www.christianity-then-and-now.com.
Evangelistic lessons can be found @ http://www.firstcenturychristian.com.