[Biblemat] S) WHERE IS THE BATTLE-LINE?

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

HAVE WE FORSAKEN OUR POST OF DUTY?  WHERE IS THE
BATTLE-LINE?

     The restoration movement in this country had a spectacul-
ar growth, when the lines of communication were very limited.
The battle-line was staked out on a "thus saith the Lord," and
the forces of sectarianism were openly challenged.  This movement caught the 
attention and captured the interest of a
staid religious world.  The plea was so different and its adher-
ents so dogmatic!  Every departure from God and His Will was openly 
condemned, and peace and harmony was offered
only upon the ground of inspiration, with every creed and dog-
ma of man surrendered.

     This plea won acceptance by some, but stern opposition
from many more.  Yet all thinking people were arrested by the
challenge: "Speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where the
Bible is silent.  Call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible
things in Bible ways."  Every point of growth met more and
more bitter opposition and persecution.  Still, there was not one vestige of 
compromise, and no sacred ground was surrendered.  With this spirit, victory 
was then assured.

     Preachers of that era were often unschooled in the secular
affairs of the world.  Without the advantages of higher ecucat-
ion, they were often challenged to meet the higher echelons 
of theological scholarship in debate.  But they were not at a
disadvantage, for God's Truth was the deciding factor, and
that Truth prevailed.  Soon the world came to recognize a line
of demarcation between the church of the Bible and the relig-
ious world of denominations.  The Cause faced slander, sneers, ridicule and 
often far more visible persecution.  But it
grew in strength and rejoiced daily, "Bringing in the Sheaves"

     New members, just recently converted, went forth declar-
ing, "We call Bible things by Bible names, we do Bible things
in Bible ways."  They deplored "the language of Ashdod" (Neh. 13:24) and 
sectarian jargon, believing if a thing was 
Scriptural, there should also be a Scriptural term to describe
it.  If these new members didn't have the answer, they sought
God's Book for the answer, and then in triumph quoted, "Which things we 
speak...Comparing spiritual things with spir-
itual words" (1 Cor. 2:13).  Though the religious world didn't
like the sound of the challenge, they soon were forced to res-
pect it.  Soon the word went forth, "If you want to know what
the Bible says, ask one of them Campbellites!"

     Had those pioneers surrendered a single principle, they
would have invited disaster to their cause.  Any compromise
would have meant the forfeiture of their right to exist, and would have 
resulted in defeat.  Knowing this, they were dog-
matic and adamant in the demand:  "Let us return to the in-
spired ground, rally around the cross of Christ, accept no
creed but Christ and no church but His church."  Yes, they
were denounced as "modern Ishmaelites, whose hand is 
against every man," but they still walked with respect!  Their
plea became the rallying point for all who recognized the trag-
edy of sectarian strife and denominational confusion.  The
wrath of religious bigots only intensified zeal of discerning
people for pure and unadulterated Christianity.

     History attests to the success of this movement, and it is
easy to analyze the factors which brought that success.  This
distinctive plea and their close adherence to Bible principles
won the battle.  They triumphed over all opposition because
they clung to the Scriptures and would not be either driven
or enticed from them.  And as a result of their unflinching de-
votion and zealous endeavor, we have received as our herit-
age a church which has come to numerical strength, power,
prestige, and popular acceptance.

     But I wonder, have we surrendered the basic ground our
forbears have hallowed?  Are we still maintaining the same
battle-lines?  Are we still "set for the defense of the gospel"
(Phil. 1:16)?  Are new converts being instilled with the same
devotion to evangelism as a couple of generations ago?  Do
members still fly back to the Bible for a "thus saith the Lord"
whenever and wherever opposition is encountered?

     Every achievement to which the church can point today was made possible 
by the courageous work of those pioneer
preachers and early converts who denounced every false way.  Their speech may 
have been rustic and sometimes un-
couth, but it effectively defended the principles of the gospel.
The didn't present the veneer of culture, but they built with
solid oak of Truth.  They may have appeared awkward in strid-
ing from the corn field or cotton patch to preach, but they 
had a quality to "grace God's pulpit" on the Lord's day.  It was to "preach 
Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:1,2) that
filled their thoughts and sanctified their efforts.

     Those pioneer preachers of nearly 200 years ago sought
not polish of fancy phrases or cultural approach.  They knew
the tragedy of sin, the horrors of hell and the certainty of 
God's judgment -- and they were campaigning for the souls
of men.  If their sermons wer not scholarly, they were Scriptu-
ral.  They didn't get fat paychecks, but they got results.  They
were not able to gesture to a heated baptistry, but they led
myriads of candidaties into creeks, rivers, ponds and horse-
troughs, and there they baptized them into Christ, "For the
remission of sins...And the Lord added to the church daily
such as should be saved" (Acts 2:38,47).  They did not ex-
pend much effort extolling the glories of "congregational aut-
onomy" and "local financial responsibility."  But they instruct-
ed those new converts with the admonition: "You have a good story to tell.  
Go, tell it!"

     God's battle-line has not changed.  We may have retreated
from it and sacrificed principle it once defended.  If so, we
have surrendered: but the battle-line remains the same.  The
world must be constantly reminded: "No book but the Bible.
No creed but the Christ.  No way but His way.  No church but
His church."  We must accept no authority save that of Christ
and must oppose evry human synod, council or conference
that would enslave the souls of men in the traditions and 
teachings of men.  We must hold forth the Bible as the all-
sufficient guide in all religious matters, and show that any addition, 
subtraction or alteration is an insult to the God who
gave it.  Let the whole world know that anyone going beyond
"the doctrine of Christ hath not God" (2 Jno. 9-11).  We stand
self-condemned if we fellowship error in religion (Gal. 2:18).

     Any "regrouping, restructioning, or modifying of forces due to changing 
social conditions" is a sinister threat against
the church -- whether it is spawned without or within the body of Christ.  
The original order of things cannot be forsak-
en and no compromise can be allowed.  If the ancient land-
marks are not maintained, we will find tht we have won many
members, but have lost the Cause!  Let us beware lest that
which has been won by distinctive plea and dogmatic adheren-
ce to principles be lost by compromise and apostasy.  ---------
Adapted from an article by Dillard Thurman first written on
March 27, 1964 and reprinted in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No.
18, May 4, 2007.   </HTML>
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