[Biblemat] S) PROTECTING CHURCHES AGAINST ERROR

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

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

PROTECTING CHURCHES AGAINST ERROR

     Recent events at the Richland Hills church in Fort Worth,
Texas (said to be the largest church of Christ in the country)
have focused attention on the question as to how congregat-
ions can protect themselves from digression.  This congregat-
ion, which has been aligned with the institutional movement,
has recently begun serving the Lord's supper on Saturday
night and using mechanical instruments of music in some of
their services.  Rich Atchley, the "senior minister," has defended these 
changes and claimed that ten years earlier he
received a revelation from the Holy Spirit that this should be
done.  His arguments in defense of mechanical instruments
of music are the same ones which gospel preachers have re-
futed again and again for many years.  They may appear new
to a younger generation of preachers.  The April issue of The
Spiritual Sword has a thorough expose of this whole episode
with a complete refutation of the arguments made in defense
of mechanical instruments of music.

     Alan E. Highers, editor of The Spiritual Sword, detailed the
change from the restrictive clauses in the deed in 1967 to an
amended deed in l994 which still prohibited the use of any
mechanical instruments of music on the premises, to the most recent change on 
November 16, 2006 when another 
amendment was filed which deleted the prohibition against
mechanical instruments of music.  Within three days of this
new amendment, it was announced that there would be a
service with the Lord's supper and mechanical instruments
of music on Saturday nights.

     For many years, congregations have sought to protect
themselves from innovations by restrictive clauses in the 
deeds of the property.  This came in the wake of the divisions
which occurred in the early part of the twentieth century along with lawsuits 
over the property and who should main-
tain possession of the property.  It was natural to try to pre-
vent such from happening again.  But when the will of the 
majority changes on various issues, then deeds can be re-
written, as this case in Fort Worth shows.

WHAT IS THE BEST DEFENSE?: -- The answer is simple, but
the application requires firmness, diligence, and persistence.
No congregation can ever be any more secure than the quali-
ty of the teaching it receives.  "They shall all be taught of
God" (Jno. 6:45).  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvat-
ion hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and 
worldly lusts, we shold live soberly, righteou-
sly, and godly, in this present world" (Ti. 2:11,12).  Titus was
charged, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with
all authority" (Ti. 2:15).  Timothy was instructed, "These thin-
gs teach and exhort" and he was warned against those who
"teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
is according to godliness" (1 Tim. 6:2,3).  Paul said to Timot-
hy, "the things that thou has heard of me among many witnes-
ses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able
to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2).  "Preach the word...for the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from
the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in
all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, 
make full proof of they ministry" (2 Tim. 4:2-5).  Paul practic-
ed what he preached.  At Ephesus, he was evangelistic for
"all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus
both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10).  But he also taught them
publicly and from house to house, keeping back nothing that
was profitable, and did not shun to "declare unto them all the
counsel of God" (Acts 20:20,27).

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?: -- Elders are charged to feed and 
guard the flock (1 Pet. 2:2,3; Heb. 13:17).  They must keep a
close watch on what is being taught, not only in the pulpit but
in the Bible classes as well.  They need to keep themselves
informed as to currents of thought and practices among bre-
thren.  If they do not study and keep up, then they will be blindsided and 
trouble will follow.  Some elders have their
heads in the sand.  They do not know what is going on and
do not seem to care.  Sometimes they try to fence in preach-
ers to keep them from dealing with issues which churches
need to know about.  What is being studied in Bible classes?
Do the young people know the difference between the New
Testament church and denominations?  Do they know why
mechanical instruments of music are not used in the worship?  Do they 
understand why the church does not pro-
vide entertainment and recreation?  Are they really studying
the Bible or watered down pablum?  If elders do not watch,
then don't be surprised if a generation arises which do not
know the Lord.

     Preachers have a large role to play in this matter.  Pretty
little sermonettes filled with snappy one-liners, stories, stories sharply 
illustrated in living color with our Power Point
displays, may get and hold attention, but where are the expos-
itory studies of books of the Bible?  Where is the refutation
of the religious error which is all around us and which some
members are absorbing like sponges from the religious chan-
nels on able TV?  Where are sermons on the need for Bible
authority and how to establish it?  Where are the sermons on
the nature, work, and organization of the church?  Where is
the exposure of false teaching on the plan of salvation?  Too
many churches are suffering from spiritual malnutrition be-
cause of pitifully weak preaching being heard from week to
week.  When you "speak things that become sound doctrine"
(Ti. 2:1), some in the pews will squirm and complain and some elders may get 
up and try to smooth it over.  Worldly
minded folks are not comfortable hearing sin plainly identified
exposed, and condemned.  Yes, we have to "speak the truth
in love" (Eph. 4:15), but we must be sure to speak the truth.
All of it.

     Faithful Christians all bear responsibility in protecting the
church against error.  Informed Christians should insist that
pulpits and classrooms echo with the sound of the old Jerus-
alem gospel.  They should appoint men as elders who are un-
questionably sound in the faith and committed to defend it.
They should demand that the truth be taught, and then com-
mend it and uphold it when it is done.  Unless elders, preach-
ers, and all Christians are committed to the truth, then all the
restrictive clauses in deeds will not  protect congregations
from the shifting opinions of untaught and uncommitted mem-
bers.  ----- Connie Adams in Truth Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 8,
August 2007.   </HTML>
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