A page this church is affiliated with attempts to discredit bible traslations, other than the King James Version, through links to the likes of the Satanic Bible. Easily researched on the internet is all the evidence needed to see that the Satanic Bible is a fraud. http://www.churchofsatan.org/aslv.html is one such page. Fiction, no matter how distasteful one might find it, has no power (trying reading Paul's letters to the church at Chorinth). A publisher's choices on materials published will always be directed by one thing; profitablility. That is why they choose to publish the Bible, and the Satanic Bible. To make a profit. End of story. To assign some conspiracy theory beyond that could only come from paranoid, spiritually immature believers. I do not mean to belittle anyone by this discription, but it is biblical (again, read Paul's letters to the Chorinthians). I will certainly not insist that the brothers and sisters in Christ, that choose to worship at Hillcrest CoC use any specific version of the Bible. I do feel, however, that I must protest their insistence on spreading their immature fear to the public, lest the public see this display, and equate it to the Church. Most of us know who publishes our bibles, and why; our focus does not rest there long. It moves into the text, where it finds a story to be learned, and moved by; like song moves a dancer, who takes the hand of one who does not know the song or the dance, and teaches it to them....oh..wait.. you guys dont dance either. Never mind...
Why should he keep his opinion to himself? I thought this was an open forum for anyone to post who has an opinion? Who are you "concerned christian" to tell someone that? You won't even post your name. Who are YOU to tell someone to keep thier opinion to themselves because they don't know what is going on? Posting here is how we find out what is going on! And, if someone has it wrong, then tell us yourself!
Concerned Christian, eh? hehe... I dont doubt it...but concerned about what? I was raised in Abilene, Texas. Went to Cooper High School. Attended Churches of Christ events and services no less than three times a week for the first 20 years of my life. Went on to Abilene Christian University. I may not know what is going on....that is true. That is why I need God. That is why Jesus paid the price for my sins, claiming me as his own! Halleluiah! This is the one thing that I know! Just sad to see some of the CoC still at the same old paranoid, "we're the only ones who do it right" battle, still. I only chimed in because without even trying, I was lead to this sight. God? I think so, as He leads me in all things. What is going on? Not sure, but I do know that this forum was open, and I came in to such a sad scene. Preach the Good News! Jesus is alive! He wants you to have abundant life! Fear and Paranoia are for those who dont know Him! For those who have the guts and calling to hold to him, and let the scriptures lead them (not the other way around, as so many seem to do), there is joy, and love, and openness! God gave us a rock, to build the church upon. 2 Peter is worth looking at, but see yourself as the false prophet; not that you are in my sight, nor do I mean to say you are....but just try it...see what God says if you are the one who is mis-interpreting....using scripture falsly, full of betrayal, and dispising authority. Look for the places where it is true of you. Then look at Jesus, and see how he sees you, if you can...it breaks everyone who sees it. They respond in ways that look to many who have yet to be broken by the eyes of Christ, as "holy entertainment".
For those who see the Gospel as a weapon to learn well, so it may be turned on the world, the praise of the saints is no more than holy entertainment, understandably dispised by them. Jesus told us a story, that of a son returned to his father after leaving to live a life focused on self. We call it the Prodigal Son. Look at the celebration, the one Jesus gave. What are the sounds the older brother heard? What?! Music! Dancing! But the older brother couldnt see it...only saw his commitment; failed to participate in the celebration...
Peace to you. The peace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Kudos, there Greg. I too grew up in Churches of Christ, went to a well known "Christian High School", and have seen many subtle changes in the Church over my lifetime. Churches of Christ used to be known for the Bible knowledge of their members, and their Biblical teaching concerning Christ and Him crucified. Then came the 1960's and the backlash to the counter-culture. Certain "educated" men began to dictate "Church of Christ Doctrine" based on their personal interpretations of Scripture. It became insufficient to take the Bible, study it, draw conclusions from it, and worship and live life according to your understanding of it. One had to be schooled in formal Aristotelian (Greek) logic and apply it to Scripture in order to "truly understand" Scripture. Any "inferences" that came out of this man-made exercize were deemed to be JUST AS BINDING AS THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES. They, in effect, became extra-Biblical "Church of Christ Doctrine", known today (usually) as "necessary inferences". Local congregational autonomy went out the window, and congregations began to cluster into groups centered around their acceptance or opposition to these man-made rules. Then they began to condemn each other, disfellowship each other, and smear each other based on these man-made rules. It is interesting to note that Alexander Campbell, one of the so-called "Restoration Fathers", though he was personally very much opposed to instrumental music in worship, stated in no uncertain terms in his writings that even that question was not worth dividing God's Church over. Each congregation had to make that decision for itself; and while he would find instrumental music a hinderance to his worship, he would still count among his brothers and sisters those who saw the issue differently. Campbell and most of the others of that time never accepted the idea that inferences derived from Scripture based on a man-made logical construct were equal in authority to direct Scriptural commands. That idea crept into the Church in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Fast forward to today, and you find that Churches of Christ are best known for their inability to go over a year or two without a split, purge, or revolt over something other than direct Scriptural commands. It is sad, indeed.
Because the publishers are only publishing the Bible for profit proves the point that they are not interested in the Truth. Christians everywhere need to know that the Bible has been changed.
By you stating that the only purpose for publishing any book is for profit shows your naiveness. There are many reasons why someone would publish a book: profit, education, social change, ego, etc. While the publishers are seeking profit, the writers may have their own agenda.
You cannot even correctly spell the word description. Your spelling of the word as "discription" is incorrect. Just thought I would describe you as uneducated.
This web site is not part of or approved by any Church!
...........................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)