[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 10/7/07

[tedwards at onemain.com]

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                 THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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                   October 7, 2007
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                     Going Onward
                 by Hershel E. Patton

    "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of 
Christ, hath not God: He that abideth in the teaching, the same 
hath both the Father and the Son" (2 Jn. 9).

    The principle of "going onward" is not evil in and of itself. 
In fact, it is often used in a good and commendable way. The 
Macedonians were commended for going onward, or "beyond their 
power" in giving (2 Cor. 8:3). Christians are urged to "go on unto 
perfection" (Heb. 6:1). We often sing, "Onward Christian soldiers! 
Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before."

    The principle of this phrase may be either good or bad, 
depending upon what the going onward is to or from. In the text for 
this study (2 Jn. 9-11), the going onward is further explained as 
"abiding not in the teaching (doctrine) of Christ." The teaching of 
Christ constitutes an enclosure, something fenced -- hedged in, a 
pattern, beyond which one must not go. The text says of the 
doctrine of Christ to the preacher what God said to the sea, 
"Hitherto shall thou come, but no further" (Job 38:11). Going 
onward from the teaching of Christ, instead of "abiding in," 
results in a forfeiture of one's relationship with God -- "hath not 
God."

    Some, even brethren, have sought to soften the prohibition of 
this passage by limiting the warning to the teaching of those 
"antichrists" who deny "that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." In 
this passage, the Gnostics of that day (who taught that the body is 
unholy, as is all matter; so divinity [Christ] could not inhabit 
the flesh) are given as an example of "going onward." All other 
cases of going beyond the teaching of Christ in any way would be 
within the limits of the principle of "going onward."

    Our text is not the only warning in Scripture of "going 
onward." We are told to mark "them which cause divisions and 
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid 
them" (Rom. 16:17), and to withdraw from all who walk not after the 
traditions received from the apostles (2 Thess. 3:6,14). Paul said 
to Timothy, "Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard 
from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13). 
Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to teach certain men not to teach a 
different doctrine, nor to give heed to fables (1 Tim. 1:3-4). The 
Galatians were told that if man or angel preached anything 
different from what Paul had preached, "he shall be anathema" (Gal. 
1:8-9). John, the writer of Revelation, said, "If any man shall add 
unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are 
written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words 
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of 
the book of life, and out of the holy city and from the things 
which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18-19).

    The teaching (doctrine) of Christ, as delivered by him and the 
inspired apostles (Jn. 16:13), is truth. Anything more or different 
from that which is divinely revealed is no part of truth. Those who 
would go onward from this, mock the wisdom of God and exalt the 
wisdom of men (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

    Some who go onward seek to justify their action on the basis of 
not going very far -- not like the "far out" ones. The evil warned 
against in this text is not determined by the distance or size of 
the "going onward" (an inch or mile), but by the attitude that 
leaves God's revealed wisdom for man's wisdom. The guilt is there 
when one decides to go onward, and does. The distance one goes may 
result in greater sorrow, havoc, and shame, but you are here seeing 
the actions of one who "hath not God." The guilt and separation 
takes place when one first goes onward instead of abiding in the 
doctrine of Christ.

                          Apostasy

    Going onward instead of abiding in the teaching of Christ; 
exchanging divine wisdom for human wisdom, truth for error, has 
been the cause of every apostasy that has occurred in the history 
of the church. Truth did not abide with the first churches very 
long. Soon, there grew up a feeling that human wisdom would serve 
the Cause better in organization than the simple order in New 
Testament churches -- each church independent, with elders, 
deacons, and saints, subject to the head, Christ and his word.

    Building on human wisdom, one elder in a congregation became 
"chief" over others; then an organization of the chief elder 
(bishop) from all the churches in a district, state, country was 
formed . . . until Catholicism, with its Pope, came to exist. All 
this, because brethren did not abide in the doctrine of Christ, but 
went "onward."

    After hundreds of years, Protestant denominationalism appeared, 
mostly through the protests of men against the corruptions and 
errors of Catholicism, and the pressing of various philosophies of 
men. None of these exists because of what Scripture says, but 
because of human philosophy and efforts.

    During the 18th century the restoration movement (a plea to 
return to the New Testament order of things, and Bible authority) 
became very popular and successful. New Testament churches came to 
exist all across the land, as Bible authority for everything 
believed and practiced was preached, along with Bible warnings 
about "going onward."

    This success was soon followed by apostasy. This time it was a 
"going onward" in the introduction of missionary societies for 
evangelism, and instruments of music in worship.

    The New Testament clearly reveals how churches did evangelistic 
work. Each church sent and supported preachers; sometimes more than 
one church sent to the same preacher. The missionary society was a 
separate organization from a local church, acting through a board 
of representatives from many churches, proposing to do evangelism 
for the churches. This was a "going onward."

    The New Testament repeatedly calls upon saints to "sing," and 
gives examples of their "singing." There is no command, inference, 
or example of saints using mechanical instruments in their praise 
unto God. To do so is going onward -- beyond the teaching of 
Christ.

    Still, another apostasy occurred within the last half century, 
involving institutionalism, sponsoring churches and the social 
gospel. These, as every apostasy, past, present or future, arise 
from "going onward and abiding not in the doctrine of Christ."

    Institutionalism, like the missionary society in evangelism, 
involves another organization for doing the work of churches in 
caring and edification (orphan/old folks home and colleges). The 
doctrine of Christ reveals local churches engaged in the work of 
evangelism, relieving the needy, and edifying, but nothing about 
churches planning, building, and managing institutions 
(organizations) for doing these things. All such organizations are 
outside the teaching of Christ (truth) and reflect a "going 
onward."

    The sponsoring church involves one church (group of elders) 
planning and carrying on a program or project, beyond the ability 
of that congregation, by soliciting money from many churches. Thus, 
the elders of one church oversee and direct the funds and work of 
many churches. There are cases where the sponsoring church elders, 
when their project has established other churches in a state or 
country, oversee a number of local churches -- even holding the 
deed to their property. Of course, no such action can be found in 
the New Testament, even if you name it "cooperation." Such exists 
because of a "going onward."

    The same thing is true of the social gospel: churches 
conducting businesses, providing recreation, entertainment, social 
functions, even building and equipping places for these activities. 
Such was never a function of New Testament churches, therefore, 
they are going onward.

                   Attempts at Justification

    The history of apostasy is this: once the line is crossed, 
rapid progress is made in embracing other unscriptural things. At 
first, brethren with some consciousness of the need for scriptural 
authority, yet desire to do something unscriptural, will seek some 
Scripture that they think will justify the thing. They find dining 
and recreational facilities in the Bible word "fellowship" or "good 
works" passages. Trying to prove an unscriptural thing scriptural 
requires twisting and perverting Scripture. Serious study, debate, 
testing, and examination will expose all perversions and bring to 
light truth.

    Brethren who "go onward" have been rebuffed and proven impotent 
in their efforts to prove their actions scriptural. Now, they have 
"A New Hermeneutic," saying there is no set pattern or confines to 
the doctrine of Christ. They say you don't need scriptural 
authority for all that you believe and practice, as long as it is 
good and not strictly forbidden.

    The claim that 2 John 9-10 only refers to the teaching about 
Christ ("had not come in the flesh") and not to the whole of his 
teaching, is an effort to destroy the idea that the doctrine of 
Christ is an enclosure, beyond which we must not go.

    Others dismiss the importance of having scriptural authority by 
flippantly saying, "We do many things without Bible authority 
(church buildings, water fountains, rest rooms, baptistry, etc."). 
This is a false statement. We do have Bible authority for these. 
Another article in this series will deal with general and specific 
authority -- aids and expedients, so I will not deal with this 
matter here. Anyone offering such justification errs because of 
ignorance in this area.

    There is no Scripture to justify "going onward and abiding not 
in the doctrine of Christ," and no amount of human reasoning can 
remove the curse for so doing. "They have not God!"

    -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 3, p. 22, February 4, 1993
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          MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
                 1022 Myrtle Street
              Denham Springs, LA  70726
                   (225) 664-8208
         Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
                 Wednesday: 7:00 PM
    evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
            e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com      
    web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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