Some Happenings Among the Area Congregations of Christ

There is an area in my front lawn that really is of great concern to me. First of all, there was an indenture on one side and later I had a problem with insects that began destroying the grass in that same area. When the lawn service sprayed some strong chemicals to kill the insects it also did damage to the grass. Now there is a ‘wash’ or the beginning of erosion that will cause further damage unless I do something constructive about it. And I plan to do that very thing in order to stop my erosion problem. Over the years there have debates and conversations concerning different styles of worship in our assemblies. Some changes are matters of differences of opinions and preferences and should not become issues that are divisive in nature.

On the other hand, some brethren have introduced practices over the years that are contributing to the erosion of scriptural and acceptable worship to God. This has not occurred overnight but has been a gradual process. Small things can become very large over a period of time. Some changes have indicated a very progressive attitude that point to a more liberal view concerning what is allowed in our corporate worship assemblies. Severe religious ‘erosion’ can cause critical damage that will eventually take place in a congregation. Permit me to mention a few indicators of serious problems that are causing great concern among brethren who are trying to hold fast to sound doctrine.

One area congregation has named denominational preachers in their church bulletins that were to speak to them during the Wednesday evening assemblies and on other occasions. Presently they are advertizing in their ‘church calendar’ that they will view a video of a ‘contemporary Christian Artist’ on a Sunday night in the month of September. This “artist” is listed in another source as being the “founding and visionary pastor of New River Fellowship in Franklin, Tennessee”. There is no reason to believe otherwise but that musical instruments will be used in the singing of religious songs by this ‘artist’.

Another area congregation had a ‘Contemporary Christian Artist’ to perform during their Sunday evening worship assembly. Their announcement stated that there would not be a charge to attend this service but a “love offering” would be taken. This ‘artist’, I am sure did not sing all his religious songs acapella syle but rather mechanical instruments would have been used. Of course many of us viewed the program on a denomination’s television program when some of the congregation’s members sang (with instruments) for a gathering at this denomination.

And yet another area congregation has used a very popular athlete (football player in high school, college & professional) to speak for them during a Sunday evening worship assembly. I know that to be true because on the church’s website the announcement in part reads as follows: “He will share his personal testimony of the spiritual journey that has occurred in his life. Invite your friends and neighbors to this event. It will be very inspirational. It is sad to note that this individual has Lou Gehrig’s disease and for this I am very sorry.

In the New Testament and especially in the book of Acts, when the apostles and preachers met people on their ‘spiritual journey’ they taught them all that the Lord required of a person in order to be saved from past sins. Here are but a few examples:

1. After Peter and the apostles had preached that Jesus was indeed the Christ and the Jewish hearers had him crucified, those who came to be believers were told what they lacked in order to obtain forgiveness of their sins. Peter instructed them to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:36-38).

2. When the nobleman from Ethiopia fully understood and believed that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah, he expressed a sincere desire to be immersed that he might be saved (Acts 8:35-38; Mark 16:16).

3. Even Saul who became a penitent believer was exhorted by Ananias to “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins…” (Acts 22:16).

4. The twelve men in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-5) who only knew the baptism of John was taught by the apostle Paul regarding the baptism of Jesus Christ and they responded by being immersed in His name. This means that a person could be baptized but for the wrong reason and understanding and still be in need of being scripturally baptized. This was also evident in the case of Apollos who knew only “the baptism of John” but he was taught by Aquila and Priscilla “the way of God more perfectly.” (Acts 18:24-26)).

5. Thus we understand that the preachers in the first century would accept individuals where they were on their ‘spiritual journey’ and guide them to the point of complete obedience in order for their sins to be forgiven by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5).

Now the question is, was the gentleman who gave “his personal testimony” on Sunday evening a believer who had been immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and thus a member of the body (church) of Christ (Acts 2:38; 41; 1 Corinthians 12:13)? If he is a New Testament Christian then I have nothing further to say except I am very sorry that we have to use popular athletes and professional singers to draw people to our buildings for a worship assembly. But for the moment let us consider the proposition that this individual is not a member of the church of our Lord but rather a member of a denomination. ***

1. Did any of the elders, preachers or some of the members endeavor to lead this precious soul on his “spiritual journey” to complete his journey by being scripturally immersed into Christ (Galatians 3:26, 27)?

2. If this was not done, was this person given the ‘right hand of fellowship’ while knowing he was not a member of the church?

3. Were the members of the congregation given the impression by the leaders that this person was acceptable to God where he was on his “spiritual journey”?

4. If that be the case, are we to understand by such action that an individual is saved without being scripturally baptized as is required by the Lord and His apostles (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38)?

5. Furthermore, if the speaker was not a member of the church, a precedent (“any act, decision, or case that serves as a guide or justification for subsequent situations”) has been set which indicates that selected additional non-members such as well known professional “Christian Artist”, athletes and others will be permitted to speak during the worship assembly of the congregation.

6. And a great harm has been done by influencing our children and young people that it is not necessary to obey all the commands of the gospel; and, that an individual can be acceptable to the lord while in a denomination as well as in the church.

Because I “love the brotherhood” I write about these matters and the words of the Apostle Paul as found in 2 Corinthians 11:28 are my personal feelings: “Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

*** I called the office of a local southern denomination and inquired about the speaker and the secretary stated that he had at one time been on the roll there but she believed that he now lives in a different city. I called a brother in Christ who has lived in our city all his life and who knew the speaker and this brother said that he had never heard of him becoming a member of the church. Surely if this gentleman had been converted some of our brethren, especially in this area would have been most happy to have announced the good news.

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