RICK ATCHLEY’S SPEECH AT
THE RESTORATION UNITY FORUM

On October 20-22, 2002 self-appointed representatives of Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches met in Lubbock, Texas for their 20th annual assembly to promote unity among the two bodies. Among the many speeches presented was one by Rick Atchley, minister of the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Ft. Worth. I listened to the tape of his presentation and have before me a transcript of his speech. I say this lest anyone assume that I might have misheard or misrepresented him. Of the several prominent ministers of the church who have embraced the change movement, Bro. Atchley stands at the head of the list, along with Max Lucado and Rubel Shelly. The Richland Hills church is the largest congregation among us and no other is more fully committed to the change movement than is it. From his delivery at the Forum, it is evident that Bro. Atchley has the highest respect and regard for his peers in the Christian Churches. Not one word of criticism does he offer, not a single exhortation to make any adjustments or changes in their beliefs, worship or practice. On the other hand it is equally evident that he holds members of Churches of Christ who do not share his unity quest in utter contempt. Describing them, he says, "they've been mean, they are mean, and going to stay mean! And I think those people (meaning us)....you're going to deal with some ugliness" (p.4 Question and Answer Session). His description of us was greeted with a roar of laughter by the Christian Church delegates.

Bro. Atchley's theme was, "The Unity Imperative," and he opened with the declaration, "I want to see in my lifetime, our fellowship reunited, and I intend to do all that I can to see that that happens" (p. 1). He and the Richland Hills church already are in full-fellowship with the Christian Churches, but his goal is to move all of our preachers and churches to that same position.

Bro. A. tells of his grandmother who in her family was the only member of the Church of Christ. She helped lead him to Christ. On her deathbed he discovered that she was baptized in the early 1900s in a Christian Church. He asked how she ended up in an "a cappella Church of Christ?" He was shocked when she replied, "the preacher moved." From this he concluded that in the past such questions as instrumental music were no "big deal;" hence, neither should it be today. By this story he unwittingly reveals his lack of understanding of our past history. The division we experienced was not a finished reality in some places until the decade of the 1920s. The names Christian Church, Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ were all used indiscriminately prior to that final dissolution of fellowship. A congregation could be known as a Christian Church and yet be a cappella. If a previous preacher had tolerated or advocated use of an instrument, or if had he tried to straddle the fence, his successor could come along and teach the church God's will for worship, urging the brethren to sing and make melody in their hearts" (Eph. 5:19). He then refers to "all those lousy sermons" he had listened to "all these years." Those of course, were sermons relating to instrumental music, stressing respect for God's Word, the authority of the New Testament of Christ, the sin of adding to or taking from God's revealed will, etc.

Bro. Atchley cites Alexander Campbell, who wrote in his Millennial Harbinger, "We're not going to publish, in this journal a lot of issue-oriented articles." He proceeds to fault us for preaching and teaching on issues such as instrumental music. It is noteworthy that he feels free to address the issue from his point of view (that instrumental music is not an issue worthy of discussion). But we should not address it from our point of view!

Bro. A. attributes our refusal to yield on instrumental music to "our pride and our refusal to admit that cultural baggage has influenced a lot of who we are." He says, "We all have cultures that taught us what we believe about what is right and wrong and what the Bible says..." (p. 2). It is true that we all have to distinguish between our culture and God's expressed will. But is he saying that it is impossible for us commoners to read and make that distinction? Or is it only intellectuals of the change movement who have attained to that higher level of knowledge?

He insists that "we've (Churches of Christ) got to recover a passion for the doctrine of the unity of all believers" (p. 2). He seems to think that only he and his comrades for change care for or preach on the importance of Christian Unity. From the beginning of our movement 200 years ago, our brethren have preached on unity. Sadly we have learned that not everyone wants unity. Some want a unity to believe and do as they will, regardless of Scripture's teaching. Others want unity, with everyone yielding to their opinions. Even the apostles encountered factious men (Tit. 3:10) and those who caused divisions (Rom. 16: 17). Just as Paul was not responsible for the defection of Phygelus and Hermogenese (II Tim. 1:15), we are not responsible for those who break fellowship with us.

He labors to convince his Christian Church auditors that our objection to instrumental music is simply a matter of "personal faith" or opinion, rather than a matter of Scriptural teaching. He confuses the eating or not eating of meat, (something God declares unimportant), with the worship of God, of which nothing is more important.

He says that early Christians, being led away to death would not have "fussed about a piano." (The Christian Church folks enjoyed his point and laughed.)

Under those same circumstances, what would they have said about infant baptism, or sprinkling, or weekly communion or a hundred other points of Bible teaching? Such emotional Atchley’s Speech, continued

appeals only beg the question. The real question is, must we obey all things whatsoever Christ commanded or not? (Matt 28:20). He feels he has discovered the cause of our lack of unity: "We haven't preached Christ crucified as the gospel. We have not decided to know nothing but Christ and him crucified" (p. 5). Of course he has in mind all of his brethren, save the change agents. It strikes me as a bit arrogant and judgmental to assert that the thousands of men who have preached among our churches have failed to preach Christ and him crucified. In fact I think it is more likely that every last one of them did; some more, some less, but all of them proclaimed the crucified Christ.

He affirms his belief in "salvation by grace through faith" (p. 5) and implies that other brethren (i.e. traditionalists) don't believe it. Again I suggest that every man that ever spoke from a pulpit in a Church of Christ believed in salvation by grace through faith because it is plainly taught in Scripture (Eph. 2:8-9). They did not however preach salvation by grace alone. That was the theme of their Presbyterian neighbors. They did not teach salvation by faith alone. That was the message of their Methodist, Baptist and Lutheran friends. In recent years, change agents such as Bro. Atchley have discovered this foundation pillar of Protestantism and have begun to proclaim it among our people. They neglect to emphasize that those who truly love Christ will keep his commandments (John 14:15) and that Christ saves those who obey him (Heb. 5:8-9). By the way, if preaching Christ crucified will forestall division among Christians, why have some left the Richland Hills church since they launched their program of change?

Bro. Atchley is proud that his congregation participated as counselors in the recent Billy Graham mission. He calls it "a tremendous event." Over 100 members of his congregation participated in the mission (p. 6). Did they help those seeking salvation to pray "the sinner's prayer" that was advocated in the crusade? We would ask Bro. A. what would be the spiritual status of those who prayed that prayer but chose not to be baptized for remission of their sins (Acts 2:38)?

He protests that some call him a liberal. He says he believes in the absolute authority of Scripture, the miracles and male leadership for the church. Of course he uses a twofold definition for "liberal." Since he is not as extreme a liberal as a Unitarian preacher or professor, he insists that he does not qualify for the designation. But "liberal" is a relative term. Webster defines it, "Broad-minded, tolerant; esp: not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms." It is "insistence that the churches should be undogmatic in temper, tolerating a plurality of theologies, and seeing personal social ethics as their main concern...." (New Dictionary of Theology (IVP). It is being ideologically left of center of the group one is associated with and its standard which they honor as the declaration of their faith. There are liberal and conservatives among Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and Churches of Christ. Bro. A. and others of the change movement, without dispute are left of center among the brotherhood of our people. He reveals the thinking of his circle of brethren by saying, "most of the preachers that I run with in mainline churches of Christ do not believe instrumental music is wrong" (p. 7). Strange, but most of the preachers I know do in fact believe instrumental music in worship is sinful.

Until 25 years ago 99 percent of our preachers believed it was wrong. He assures us that he is not trying to make (us) worship "and violate (our) conscience" (p. 7). He just wants us to admit and accept that "it ain't wrong." Then he and his change agents can use instruments if they wish and enjoy full fellowship with those who do. We could argue the same way for the use of beads, incense and candles in worship.

In the Q & A session he ponders, "I wonder in a cappella churches of Christ, if this one issue isn't going to cause another breach...?" His response is enlightening. "I don't know if we have enough energy to split again" (p. 7). But note that he is not worried that it might do just that! He has no intention of giving up his crusade, even if it is divisive!

To a question, he responds, "You are going to find a lot of a cappella churches that are gonna' start saying Sunday morning we are going to be a cappella, but after that, we are going to let a lot of freedom reign, which is pretty much what we do at Richland Hills. You walk into our youth center Sunday morning or Wednesday night: and I'm telling you; Christian rock an' roll is just blasting" (p. 9).

Bro. Atchley's final word is, "But if you believe that Jesus alone saves, then you can be my brother or sister" (p. 10). Thus he shows where his road leads: open membership; fellowship with all who believe in Jesus as Savior. Perhaps it would be easier for him to tell us which sects and denominations that would exclude from his fellowship.

Rather than Rick Atchley and his team trying to change a million and a half of us, most of whom do not share his view, it seems it would be far better for them to go to the Christian Church or to some other Protestant body where they would be gladly received. It is time we bid farewell to Bro. Atchley and his fellow change-agents. They are going out from us because they are no longer of us (I John 2:19).





A. B. Gregoreo


* Page numbers cited refer to a typed transcription of Bro. Atchley's speech. Additional copies available; contact Box 821220, Fort Worth, TX 76182. Item #D-3050c.

Texas, we have a problem here!

How is it possible for someone so ANTI- non instrumental to be the senior pastor of a church built by non instrumentalists who probably didn't vote to hire a pro Christian Church leader?

Rick Atchley identifies himself as a FELLOW RUNNER with Rubel and claims that none of his fellow runners believe that INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP IS WRONG.

Jimmy Sites was part of this group when Madison began to be INFILTRATED and DIVERTED. He signed the apology for opposing those who use instruments.

The so called UNITY FORUM between churches of Christ diverting their groups and the Christian Church has fueled much of the SOWING OF DISCORD. Really it is a sham forum between Christian church preachers and aspiring Christian church preachers. We ask that old question: Where's the DIALOG?

We have posted our quick review of Ricks' speech here:

http://www.piney.com/Rick-Atchley-Music.html

It is not possible to tell you the TRUTH about instrumental music without offending some of you with the X or R rated pictures. Too bad, but these pictures are ancient DOCUMENTS on vases which defines with POWER POINT what was going on when the clergy PIPED hoping that Jesus would bow down to the DIONYSUS singing and dancing. This was part of the Abomination of Desolation in the Jerusalem temple when a statue of Zeus was installed and Dionysus worship involved sexuality right in the holy places.

If they offend you then just know that you are encouraging your youth to do the ROCK AND ROLL and these pictures show what you look like to a Holy God.

The connecton between Satan or Lucifer (ZOE) and music HAS NO HISTORICAL EXCEPTION. MUSIC and worship has the universal connection with sexuality and homosexuality.

How then can PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS stand in the holy place claiming to be the worship and word MEDIATORS?

The Bible and the history of the world's religion associates MUSIC with paganism. And there is no historical effort to justify it until the Christian church arose trying to carpet bag southern churches of Christ.

Unfortunately, MUSIC has the morphine- like drug INJECTION power to make it virtually imnpossible to separate TRUTH from total FICTION. We will point out some of Rick's fictions.

Ken Sublett

As far as I can determine there is a small band of preachers urgently trying to divert non-instrumental churches of Christ into the Christian Church denominational structure.

One of the obviously AGREED UPON ploys to Navigate any opposing winds is to BLAME the non- instrumental churches for the FIRST division and SET THEM UP to shift the blame in the present sowing of discord. For instance, Rick Atchley notes:

In the Q & A session he ponders,

"I wonder in A CAPPELLA churches of Christ, if this one issue isn't going to cause ANOTHER BREACH...?" His response is enlightening. "I don't know if we have enough energy to split again" (p. 7).

"But note that he is not worried that it might do just that! He has no intention of giving up his crusade, even if it is divisive!

-----------------------------

You have to have subscribed to the Shellyite "no authority" except the CORE GOSPEL of seven facts ABOUT Jesus in order to HIDE all of the Biblical and historical association of music with satan and idolatry.

You have to ignore history to blame the non- instrumental churches for letting their property be stolen by instrumentalists WITH NO Biblical authority needed. They, too, had outgrown Christ and His Words.

=-=-------------

Frome J.E. Choate and William Woodson "Clanging Brass and tinkling Cymbals"

WEST: "Apostasy in music among 19th century churches that had endeavored to restore New Testament authority in worship and work began, in the main, following the American Civil War'

In 1868, Ben Franklin guessed that there were TEN THOUSAND congregations and not over FIFTY had used an instrument in worship." (Earl West, Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 2, pp. 80, 81)

In NASHVILLE

"The WOMEN were soon busily at work to form an auxiliary society. Sewell's pleas to Giddens went unheeded.

During the following summer, the women wrote letters to the churches of the state asking funds be sent to them

so they could hire a STATE EVANGELIST. Before long, plans were laid

to secure the services of A. I. Myhr.

==========

Myhr made his goals clear about promoting the Society and Instrumental music

-----even though it would divide the churches. Myhr's goal, Lipscome believed, was to

-----"ostracize, boycott, and STARVE every preacher that does not APPROVE the society."

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WE HAVE HEARD THAT THIS THREAT HAS AGAIN BEEN MADE IN NASHVILLE- A CITY SET ON SEVEN HILLS.

SEE SOME MORE NOTES which proves that women or effeminate men are the promoters of idolatrous forms of religion:

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

We can only wonder at the motives of people who have obviously conspired to BLAME the first division over music on those who continued to do what they had done since the church was establish WITH NO PRAISE SERVICE.

As opposed to Christianity which is a discipline or SCHOOL, it has been frequently mentioned that false religions have been founded by WOMEN and WEAK MALES. It is doubtful that the present deliberate sowing of discord began without a woman making its heart beat??

The testimony of the forcing of music into the world's pagan religions is even more damning.

Kenneth Sublett

A good web site to go to that gives historical quotes from early Christians regarding instrumental music: http://www.bible.ca/ntx-instrumental-music.htm See what these early Christians have to say and especially see the one from HUMPHREYS which is the only one that might, just might I pray, touch some of those that have turned to clapping. Click on Historical Quotes from Early Christians. Please do not stay in a Church just because you have gone there all your life if you have been infiltrated by change agents and/or praise teams. Do something about it or get out. If you only have clapping now, instruments of music are not far behind.

Interactive Bible states that:

In the Old Testament, God commanded Jewish worshipers that musical instruments were to be used, and when and where - God was specific (see II Chron. 29:25-28).

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This may be too charitable toward music used AS WORSHIP. We should note that the temple was so polluted that sacrifices could no longer be made even in the court. However, Hezekiah did not restore WORSHIP at the KING'S CHAPEL but regrouped everyone around Jerusalem to resist invasion.

"In preparing for the inevitable Assyrian campaign to retake Palestine, Hezekiah strengthened the defenses of his capital, Jerusalem, and dug out the famous Siloam tunnel (2 Kings 20:20, 2 Chronicles 32:30), which brought the water of the Gihon springs to a reservoir inside the city wall.

Therefore, notice the sequence as Hezekiah opened the closed temple and told the priests that the place was so polluted that:

"Wherefore the WRATH of the Lord was upon JUDAH and JERUSALEM, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 2 Chron 29:8

"Now it is in MINE heart to make a COVENANT with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 2 Chronicles 29:10

Hezekiah, like David, made a covenant to turn away the fierce wrath from Jerusalem and its temple specifically so that the outlying people could take sanctuary behind the walls. THIS WAS NOT GOD-ORDAINED WORSHIP WITH MUSIC.

Notice that the "people's congregation" is never involved in the temple rituals. The temple ritual signaled by loud sound was to put the common people OUTSIDE the walls or city while the KING and CITY OFFICIALS went into the temple COURT.

"Then Hezekiah the KING rose early, and gathered the RULER of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:20
And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a SIN OFFERING
1-----for the KINGDOM, and
2-----for the SANCTUARY, and
3-----for JUDAH.

The only WORSHIP is defined as the King and his CITY OFFICIALS to FALLING on their face. Slaughtering animals as a TYPE of slaughtering Jesus Christ along with MOCKING MUSIC was NOT approved worship but Hezekiah's trying to bargain with God to approve of the polluted temple for the service of the priests so they would leave the outlying altars.

"And he commanded the PRIESTS the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:21
--"So they killed the BULLOCKS, and the PRIESTS received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar:
----"likewise, when they had killed the RAMS, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar:
------"they killed also the LAMBS, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 2 Chronicles 29:22
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THE KING'S SACRIFICE. Israel was now an alien nation. To try to regroup the nation to ward off the enemy, Hezekiah TOOK the initiative for the sacrifice of the goats to include ALL ISRAEL. This was consistent with KING DAVID'S initiative to BARGAIN with God. Hezekiah does not represent AN APPROVED SYSTEM OF WORSHIP with MUSIC. Notice that this is the first involvement of the King and City Officials:

"And they brought forth the HE GOATS for the sin offering before the KING and the congregation (representatives only); and they laid their hands upon them: 2 Chronicles 29:23
--"And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, [This says: "This goat is dying for the sins of all Israel]
---"to make an atonement for ALL ISRAEL:

The KING and not the PRIESTS initiated the BURNT and SIN offering FOR ALL ISRAEL:

"for the KING commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 2 Chronicles 29:24

For this last offering, notice that there ARE two sets of commands: one for the king and kingdom but another one from Nathan. We will show parallel passages later:

WHAT?: "And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,

Authority: "according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the kings seer,

WHAT?: and Nathan the prophet:

Authority: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. 2 Chronicles 29:25

PARALLEL PASSAGES PROVE THAT ONE WAS BY THE KING FOR TEMPLE PURIFICATION AND NOT WORSHIP.

FIRST, THEREFORE, this was not CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP WITH INSTRUMENTS BUT THE KING'S BARGAIN TO COLLECT ALL OF JUDAH AROUND JERUSALEM.

SECOND, WHILE THE KJV READING CAN BE MISUNDERSTOOD as the command of God for PRIEST-LED WORSHIP, THE SYRIAC VERSION READS:

"Hezekiah appointed the LEVITES in the house of the Lord, with instruments of music, and
--the sound of harps,
--and with the HYMNS of DAVID,
--and the HYMNS of GAD, the king's prophet,
--and of [Hymns of] NATHAN, the KING'S prophet:

[This Nathan was a son of Asaph and a musician.]

--for David sang the praises of the Lord his God,
--as from the mouth of the prophets."

IF THE COMMAND WAS FROM GOD FOR DAVID'S INSTRUMENTS IT STILL WOULD NOT BE FOR CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP BUT FOR THE "PLAGUE STOPPING ANIMAL SACRIFICE."
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This agrees with the Temple-Dedication and other parallel rituals. Notice the form of parallelism to separate the KING'S involvement for the SECULAR TEMPLE and the priest's use of the 120 trumpets MAKING ONE SOUND:

"And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep:
1. so the king and all the people (clergy and officials only) DEDICATED the house of God. 2 Chronicles 7:5
------2. And the PRIESTS waited on their offices: (Religious)
------1A. the LEVITES also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth forever, when David praised by their ministry;
2A. and the priests SOUNDED trumpets before them, and all Israel stood (only those called to be present or stand fast). 2 Chronicles 7:6

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AT THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE DAVID IS THE AUTHOR OF SOUNDING INSTRUMENTS FOR THE "LIKE THE NATION'S TEMPLE"

GOD: "Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch, 2 Chronicles 8:12
--------Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 8:13

DAVID: "And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges,
--------to praise and minister BEFORE the PRIESTS, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded. 2 Chronicles 8:14

The LEVITES made a great sound to SERVE the PRIESTS: they did not lead CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP WITH INSTRUMENTS. NOR IS GOD GOING LISTEN TO "MUSIC" OR "EAT" SACRIFICED ANIMALS. Jerusalem and the TEMPLE were granted when Israel's Elders FIRED God. Therefore, in ALL national animal sacrifices A LOUD NOISE with noise-making instruments was EXORCISM: To call up the "good gods" and repulse the "evil spirits." In no case were either SINGERS or MUSICIANS allowed in the Holy Place as a type of the body or church of Christ

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AFTER THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY DAVID IS THE AUTHOR OF SOUNDING INSTRUMENTS FOR THE "LIKE THE NATION'S TEMPLE"

"And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. Nehemiah 12:44

----And both the singers and the porters
----kept the ward (sentry) of their God,
----and the ward of the PURIFICATION,
----according to the COMMANDMENT of DAVID, and of Solomon his son. Nehemiah 12:45

NEHEMIAH LOOKS "WAY BACK" TO DAVID AND NOT TO NORMAL "WORSHIP" IN JERUSALEM:

For in the DAYS of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the SINGERS,
and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. Nehemiah 12:46

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Again, the Interactive Bible is too CHARITABLE in agreeing that MUSIC was ever commanded by God or used by the "people's congregation" for spiritual worship.

AGAIN: This leaves music belonging to the LIKE THE NATION'S KING AND TEMPLE which God permitted David after the elders FIRED GOD and demanded a human king LIKE THE NATIONS so that they could worship LIKE THE NATIONS.

2 Chronicles 29 is explained by several different accounts and other versions. God granted David the temple because he was now king of a NATION-LIKE (GOYIIM) temple state. If God ever commanded instruments it is only for the TEMPLE DEDICATION or TEMPLE PURIFICATION animal sacrifices. Neither singing, playing or burning animals is defined as WORSHIP. The common people worshiped in the QAHAL or synagogue or ekklesia (Greek Version) or church in the wilderness. Blowing instruments or "making a joyful noise" was outlawed (Num 10:7) and the common people never used either "a praise service" or instruments in the synagogue: common sense, the synagogue, ekklesia or church is not for ritualistic worship to appease God but it is "the school of the Bible." Sane people do not need a command to silence the MUSIC during the time Jesus the Master Teacher is speaking to us through His Word.

The Bible NEVER uses the MUSIC word to define worship in the entire Bible. Therefore, we believe that it is not evil not to be charitable about it.

Ken Sublett

As it always has been and will always be when those who seek to pervert the truth, all manners of lies and and any form of deceit will be used to lead many away from the truth. It is not new but it is still unbelievable that supposed men of God would seek to please themselves at the cost of their souls and the souls of others. I fight this perversion from the truth on a daily basis. I pray as often that God keep me from going astray. As a young teenager in the Central Church of christ, in Miami, Florida, I saw how the CrossRoads movement came into the church. It was not an overnight movement. It evolved slowly and grounded brethren saw it 'afar off' and gave warning to it. Did the Elders heed the warning and fight it off? Look at the condition of the church there and you will know the answer. I wonder if the church at Richland Hills saw the course it was choosing many years ago when they hired certain people to lead and direct, or even if it mattered to them as it seems to not be of no concern to them now.
When Judas sought to betray our Lord, it started long before he took the thiry pieces of silver. When he did realize his sin, he was 'sorry' but not to godliy repentance. Cain was much the same way in his actions. And these actions are those of the heart and I believe that is what makes these actions in the church today so severe. We are to serve/love God with all our mind, heart, soul, and strength.
I have to laugh at the thought that any who oppose or disagree with the thoughts of these people are 'enemies' to the same. I chose to 'fear' God. Am I labeled as 'mean' or a 'hater' of these poeple because I fear God more than I fear them? So be it.
God will judge man as He has in the past for lying to His people. Till that day dawns, it is the right of all christians every where to rightly divide the word of truth. Make your calling and election sure. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
In closing, I would welcome any person (s) to talk to me face to face about why this ungodly thing is right. Bring your Bible.
In Christian Love,
David Bragg

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people tp gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are senual persons, who cause divisions, not havibg the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." Jude vs. 3 through 23.

What new thing has the leadership of Richland Hills done that is different from what mankind has tried to do since the creation of man and his ability to pervert what God has said? You my call it by another name and try to justify it another way, but when sin rears itself, is it not still....sin? Sure it is.
Secondly.
Have those at Richland Hills also thought that their end would be different than those who before now tried to lie to the masses that God so clearing placed before you to teach them His Word? Verses 5 through 11 clearing depict an end/judgement that has not changed. Do you so think that God has forgotten His own words of Hebrews 13:8? What about 1Peter 1:13? Who's revelation are you bringing to the people? You know it isn't that of God. Are you not seriously concerned about your soul? Are you not aware and dreadfully afraid of God's judgement and wrath?

I know that much has been said and much more will be said about the destruction on the church at Richland Hills. People of faith must stand firm on the truth. You cannot be silent. Souls are in danger. God has given us the armor to fight, so fight we must, but only as God would have us to.

In His Service,

David Bragg

Brother,

You quote the book of Jude as if it fits this congregation like a glove.

Jude

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Jude is warning the church about men that are using the grace God gave us an excuse for immorality. These Godless men were denying that Jesus is the Christ.

Is that what you are saying is going on at Richland Hills? Are they advocating that immorality is ok because God’s grace will cover the sin? Are they teaching Jesus is not the Christ?

It is easy to use a passage to make your point. It is harder to stick to God’s point. Contend for the faith, “Jesus is the Christ.” And do not use grace as an excuse for immorality.

God Bless!
David Hardin

Brother Hardin,

I appreciate your response. It was not my intention to use the scriptures in any way that would cause or generate confussion. I will try and respond to answer your questions and those of 'chicken little'.

Jude wrote this epistle to establish the Christians in the Christian faith, and a practice and conversation truly conformable to the faith. The gospel salvation is a common salvation, in a most sincere offer to all mankind. None are excluded from the benefit of these gracious offers and invitiations, but those who chose to exclude themselves. It is made to all believers; to the weak and the strong. Here we are safe. If we stir a step further, we are in danger of being either entangled or seduced. The apostles and evangelists all wrote to us of this common salvation. They have fully declared to us all that is necessary for every one to believe and do,in order to obtain a personal interest in the common salvation. Those who speak of sacred things ought always to speak of them with the greatest reverence, care, and diligence. Those who have recieved the doctrine of this common salvation must contend earnestly for it. As the apostles did, by suffering patiently and courageously for it.
Brother david, you ask three questions.
1) Am I saying they deny Jesus is the Christ?
2) Are they advocating that immorality is ok?
3) Are they teaching Jesus is not the Christ?
Based on the writings we have here in Jude alone, I affirm that the leadership of Richlands Hills is guilty of all three questions.There are many other sources of scriptures and they have been used so I will not repeat them. But Jude does offer another view at warning the church of corruption that comes from within and this gave Jude the occasion to write this warning. As evil manners give rise to good laws, so dangerous errors often give just occasion to the proper defence of important truths. Ungodly men are the great enemies of the faith of Christ and the peace of the church. Those who deny or corrupt the one, and disturb the other, are here expressly styled ungodly men. Ungodly men raise scruples, start questions, cause divisions, widen breaches. Nothing cuts us off from the church but that which cuts us off from Christ; namely, reigning infidelity and ungodliness. The worst of ungodly men are those who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, who take encouragement to sin more boldly because the grace of God has abounded, and still abounds, so wonderfully. Those who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness do in effect deny the Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. They deny and strike at the foundation of religion, for they deny the only Lord God, and they overturn all the frame of revealed religion, for they deny the Lord Jesus Christ. These stand or fall together. Thoose who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness are ordained unto condemnation. We ought to contend earnestly for the faith, in opposition to those who would corrupt or deprave it, such as have crept in unawares. The more busy and crafty the instruments and agents of Satan are, to rob us of the truth, the more solicitous should we be to hold it fast.
Jude's warning was to those in the church and not just to those who stood on the outside wanting to harm or even destroy the church. It is nothing new to know that unbelievers want to harm the body.Neither is it uncommon that those inside are dressed in sheeps clothing. The worg of God does tell us to be aware and be prepared for such. Let us remember that we are fighting a spiritual warfare. Not flesh and blood.
I again thank you for responding and doing so in a kind manner. It is always my intention to stick to God's point and contend for the faith.
If you chose to, you may contact me via e-mail and we could converse either in person or by phone. You may make the contact if you so chose.

In His Service,

David Bragg

Oh no David! The sky is falling....the sky is falling! Have you EVER been to Richland Hills? Your use of Jude is incredibly FLAWED and a misuse of God's Holy Word. You need to check context sometime instead of using scripture for your own evil purposes of criticising others....Paul had a term for this....Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

CL

In responce to your question, have I ever been to the Richland Hills Church of Christ. Yes. I don't know what this has to do with the leaving of doctrine as the Holy Scriptures teaches us to abide in.
In 1965 I began attending the church. At that time it was located on the Grapevine Highway. We then moved the building to the building that is now owned by the City of Richland Hills. Then we built where the latest building now sits. My dad, William, was a Deacon at one point when we had first moved to the first 820 location. My roots go deeper if you include the years I spent at Christ's Haven Childrens Home in Keller. I attended school at Fort Worth Christian Academy. Graduated from Freed-Hardeman College. Have been a member of the Lord's church going on 45 years. Strive daily to live as Christ would have me to.
Hope this helps you somehow.
David Bragg

Brother David B.,

From you post it seems to boil down to that we all are guilty of:
1) Deny Jesus is the Christ? 2) Advocating that immorality is ok? 3) Teaching Jesus is not the Christ? just because we do not perfectly understand and or practice the scripture. Your accusations can be made about anyone. I do not believe that Richland Hills is allowing anyone to teach that Jesus is not the Christ. I do not believe that they are teaching that it is ok to be immoral because God’s grace will cover your sins. This was happening in Jude’s day and it was a very bad problem.

In order to correctly use this scripture we need to stick to what it actually says. Jude lays out in detail that he is talking about. He paints a good word picture of these people. He does into detail about the men he is urging us to contend with. He is not making a general warning but a very specific one. He warns about “these men”.
They are:
1. changing the grace of our God into a license for immorality
2. denying Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
3. pollute their own bodies,
4. reject authority
5. slander celestial beings.
6. speak abusively against whatever they do not understand
7. What things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals--these are the very things that destroy them.
8. grumblers
9. faultfinders
10. follow their own evil desires
11. boast about themselves
12. flatter others for their own advantage
13. follow mere natural instincts
14. do not have the Spirit.

He Spirit paints a picture of those we are to contend with. There is no compromise with a man that teaches that Jesus is not the Christ. There is no compromise with those who teach immorality is ok because God’s grace will cover the sin. Contend with the boastful, grumblers and faultfinders.

It is not consistent with the scripture to put the Brothers at Richland Hills in this group.

In Him,
David Hardin

I thank you again for your response. I agree with your knowledge of Jude. I will not urgue with you over the understanding you have of this book.
I have a pure heart in my writings. I know you don't know me but I hope to meet with you soon in person, so that we can see one another face to face and I will try to understand what it is that I don't understand about the issues that are of concern to me. I think it fair to say that I have a love for the church and the body that makes up the church. I have a view of the Lord's church that I know is no longer shared throughout the brotherhood. I don't want to get into a slanderous e-mail affair with anyone. I do think it good to study the word of God and try as Christ would have us, to look at what is dividing us and try with all the Godly love and care we have, to sit down as reasonable men of God, and see if peace, in the Word, can be found.
I hope we can do this, not for each other, but for the Lord. I would like to know that it is possible to "gain a brother".
Many things have changed in the church since I was a child. I thought it best to hide or get lost in the crowd. But as I have grown older, I know better. I am not afraid of being wrong, or even corrected. That is how I have been able to grow. Please allow me this even now.
You may call me at 1.334.462.0077. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Your Brother in Christ,
David Bragg

In looking for the web site for Richland Hills, I ran across you're letter. I am a life long member of the Church of Christ and it is my heritage. My great grandfather was a preacher and my grandfather a wonderful elder. It is not my intention to cause division, but as I get older and think even more of my faith and that of my family, I do feel that I have been wrong in judging the faith and relationship with God of other Christians. I have come to realize that while I have strong beliefs about certain ideas, the Lord tells me that with all my faith-- I am still not perfect--no one is. So if on one issue I am right and another Christian is wrong and on another issue this is reversed---why will God forgive me and not the other? I have come to believe that all of us who believe on Christ as the Son of God and our Savior, and are doing all we know to obey Him and worship Him--will receive His Grace and salvation according to our needs. I once heard a minister use a full glass of water to show our salvation. He expressed that all through our life, God keeps our glass full. Sometime we may contribute 1/3 and God 2/3--1/2 and 1/2--etc. But always God's grace is with us if we stay close to God. One other thought. We know that God created us in His image--God is Spirit. I wonder if God is not a lot more interested in our Spirit and Heart than in physical details of worship. Anyone can do many things right but if their heart is not right with God and their motives are not right--they would probably not please God. I hope I have expressed some of my views in a Christian way and attitude and that you might give some thought to this note. God really did say that the world would know His People by their Love.
Sincerely, Mary Ann Stobaugh

Christian Church	Virtual Christian Church
Bob Russell, Southeast Christian Church Ben Merold, Harvester Christian Church Allan Dunbar, North American Christian Conv. Barry McMurtrie, Crossroads Christian Church	Rick Atchley, Richland Hills Church of Christ Rubel Shelly, Family of God at Woodmont Hills Mike Cope, Highland Church of Christ Randy Harris, Abilene Christian University

Parable of the Lost Shepherd? September 2 2004, 10:06 PM

UNITY AT ANY PRICE means that non-musical (machines or teams) churches have to BOW to the instrumental churches. To their credit, and as far off base and unlearned their views of PERFORMANCE WORSHIP is, NO Christian church is going to be a TRAITOR to the owners. UNITY is based on the WORDS of Christ which are Spirit and Life; when you have performance preaching and music out of THEIR OWN SPIRITS, you REFUSE to imitate Jesus Who defined SON as speaking what He heard from the FATHER Who fully indwelled Him.

I have collected some data on the TRAFFICKING schemes to BUILD 5500 NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

http://www.piney.com/Unity.Impact.html

Victor Knowles seems to be a shaker and mover in the UNITY MOVEMENT.

Of course, this is all a scam: both the christian church people and their dupes claiming to be churches of Christ know very well that UNITY means that unless we AFFIRM and FELLOWSHIP instrumental churches we are something like brother killers (Shelly says "fratricidal") and everyone knows that everyone watches us like they would watch FIRE BOMBERS of restaurants and muggers of ladies wearing fur coats.

http://www.piney.com/Pepperdine.2004.knowles.html

Victor is a darling at Pepperdine and the other SPONSORING universities. You will notice that he has a fixation--learned from Jeff Walling--about dancing with God or DANCING with "a cappella" churches of Christ (used as a RACA word). He quotes some MAYPOLE STUFF and then yuks, yuks that old Jeff DARES to do it. Did I tell you the old story somewhat repeated in The Book of Enoch and Book of Jubilees? Well, it seems that when Adam had sex and danced with this "beautiful" creature, when it was all over she was a blubber repository of cosmic ugliness and revulsion. SHE was also known as Lucifer or Zoe: the BEAST and female instructing principle.

Ken Sublett