Are We Taking The Backbone Out Of The Church Of Christ? (2)
by Joe R. Price
In more and more cases, that is precisely what is happening. Consider some of the evidence so that we will not be guilty of cowardice in the defense and spread of truth. Paul, writing from prison, affirmed, “I am set for the defence of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16).
Present Trends. The trend today is “political correctness.” It has gotten to the point with some brethren that they shudder to hear names called from the pulpit to identify and rebuke sin. They forget that Jesus and his apostles repeatedly did so in order to admonish sinners to repent and to warn others from following their sinful path. Paul spoke of some who had made “shipwreck concerning the faith.” He named them, “of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme” (I Timothy 1:19-20). Others had turned away from him and then he named two specifically. “This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (II Timothy 1:15). Paul specifically mentioned Alexander the coppersmith and said he “did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works: of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words” (II Timothy 4:14-15). How can we call people to repent if we will not identify the sinner and his sin?!
Unity in doctrinal and moral diversity is gathering momentum as the rallying cry of brethren no longer content with the old paths (Jeremiah 6:16). Teachers of error on divorce and remarriage, true worship, women’s role in the church, etc. are being warmly received instead of being marked as false teachers who subvert souls with their error (II John 9-11; Romans 16:17-18). Instead of calling sinners to repentance, brethren are often saying “we cannot judge the matter … it is between them and God.” Just “abide in the calling wherein you were called” (even if it is sin!). Jesus rebuked some, calling them hypocrites, and then asked, “Ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time? And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?” (Luke 12:56-57). Can we no longer judge what is right and call sinners to repentance?!
Present-day Preaching. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (II Timothy 4:1-2). Yet some brethren are telling us that we cannot really know for certain the truth on crucial Bible subjects (i.e., divorce and remarriage, plan of salvation). This is reflected in their preaching, which has become intellectual rather than persuasive. After all, if we cannot definitely know the truth, how can you definitely persuade people to obey it with firm assurance of faith?! But we can understand and obey the truth today. The Scriptures teach, “… how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ.” “Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 3:3-4; 5:17).
Using psychology as the foundation for one’s preaching is increasingly popular among Christians. We are being told that we can easily identify a person’s personality which will in turn help us deal with him better. At best, judging the personality of others is very tricky business. What is equally dangerous and deceptive about it is that we end up pigeon-holing people almost before we get to know them. How we deal with them is then based upon some psychological profile developed by man instead of the gospel revealed by God! The Bible does not teach us this approach to loving our neighbor. It is the wisdom of man masquerading as the gospel of Christ! I wonder what temperament or personality Jesus would be assigned by some of my pop-psychology preaching brethren! But aren’t we supposed to be like Him? Do not be deceived (I Corinthians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:8; II Corinthians 2:11)!
Still others are telling us that unless we stress the positive aspects of Christianity we will surely lose our children and our opportunities to teach others. We definitely need balance in our preaching and in our lives. But practical “positivism” often becomes an unwillingness to debate the truth and engage error, lest we become labeled as “negative,” “fanatics,” or “unfriendly.” I wonder how well Jesus and Paul would fair under such a colored microscope of hypocrisy (cf. Matthew 23; Acts 17:2-3; et al.)?!
Efforts to “Modernize” the Church. The old Jerusalem gospel is out of date to many brethren. They are groping for new paths to follow. Some have rejected establishing Bible authority for what we teach and practice by using commands (direct statements), apostolic approved examples, and necessary inference (see Acts 15:7-21 for examples of each being used). The “new hermeneutic” (method of interpretation) is really an old apostasy (I Timothy 4:1)! It is spawning repeated departures from the revealed truth. Woman are serving as elders, preaching from pulpits, and leading singing. Denominationalists are being warmly received as “brethren in Christ.” Doctrine is “not that important” according to these change doctors in the church. Funny, the apostles of Jesus said it is. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema …” (Galatians 1:6-10). Wonder who is right?
The social gospel is clearly an effort to modernize the church. The church has been given the work of spreading the gospel, spiritually edifying the saints, and caring for the needs of the saints (Acts 6:1-6; 11:27-30; Ephesians 4:11-12). The work of social activity is rightly the work of the home. The church is not a funnel we must pour every good work through before it can be done. As families let us take our responsibility to develop the social as well as the spiritual character of our children, and let the congregation do its work of teaching and upholding the word of God.
How much backbone will the church of Christ have in the days and years to come? That depends upon how much backbone each Christian is willing to have. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Corinthians 16:13). We must each have the courage of faith to take our stand with Jesus and His revealed word of truth, being ready to suffer dishonor for the name (Mark 8:34-38; Acts 5:41).
(http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker/articles4.htm#are)