There is widespread unrest due to doctrinal change
in the churches of Christ. This is seen in news reports in the
papers as well as by general observation in our own area. Some
members of the church are asking for a clear statement, therefore,
from their elders and preachers as to whether the congregation
where they attend will continue preaching and practicing "the
strait and narrow way" according to the patterns given in
the New Testament ... or whether they will follow the crowds in
"the broad way that leads to destruction," division,
and denominationalism (Matthew 7:1-14).
It has been observed in the current issue (February,
2006) of the Christian Chronicle, the newspaper that reports
news and activities among members of the churches of Christ (a
cappella), that there are many among us who no longer hold
to these principles and who would lead members in joining hands
in fellowship with the Christian Churches who have introduced
innovations that have caused division among us "contrary
to the doctrine which we learned" (Romans 16:17) in the Lord's
church. The most notable division in the history of what we know
as the Restoration Movement was recognized and reported in the
government census of 1906, exactly 100 years ago. Being oblivious
to the warnings of history, some among us are ignoring or minimizing
the causes of these divisions, rather than observing the admonition
in the Bible to "mark those who cause divisions contrary
to the doctrine, and turn away from them" (Romans16:17).
In congregations in our own community, we have
seen brethren divided by the introduction of mechanical instruments
of music into the public worship and into the praise services
of our youth. Some have changed the name of the church so as to
no longer be identified with the Lord's great brotherhood. Some
are funding the formation of new congregations to be known by
an unbiblical "community" type generic term, where the
musical praise is being planned to include mechanical instruments.
Elders report that some of their members are leaving their congregations
to join with this new community church just down the street from
where they meet. Even though some congregations do not now use
these mechanical devices in their worship assemblies, it is obvious
they would now be doing so were it not for merely pragmatic reasons.
They speak of their "likes" or their "personal
preference" for a cappella singing because they were
raised "in that tradition." Since scripture and nature
teach that "each produces after its own kind," any church
that participates in the planting of an instrumental church is
itself the same kind in heart and doctrine.
Women in some of our congregations are no longer
exhorted to remain "silent in the churches" but rather
are given positions of leadership over men, and, in some cases,
publicly pray in the assemblies and speak and exhort from the
scriptures in public gatherings in the presence of men. Scriptures
say this is to their "shame."
Our youth attend rallies where speakers encourage
change in the worship of the church. Some of our finest preachers
of the past are now helping to establish "community"
churches where biblical patterns are not observed and honored.
Even where these innovations are not practiced, changes are advocated,
and those who would express caution are sometimes ridiculed and
given no voice to express their concerns. Those who have left
these "to the left" congregations need assurances that
they have not "left the frying pan only to find themselves
in the fire" of drifting doctrines and directions.
Adding to these alarms, it is being observed that
the directors of Abilene Christian University and of the Tulsa
Workshop have abandoned their former distinctive roles in leadership
and are now sharing their program with leaders from the Christian
Churches, further distancing themselves and alienating faithful
brethren in thousands of churches of Christ. The time has come
for strong and clear statements of clarification on where our
church leaders are in the direction they will be leading us. We
cannot survive on cute sermonettes and clever stories in our pulpits.
We are asking for assurances of sound doctrine in our pulpits
and classrooms (1 Timothy 4:1-6; Galatians 1:6-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for
good men to do nothing. Today's failure to stand against sin and
unbiblical changes opens the floodgates to compromise and apostasy.
A warning from the Old Testament: remember Eli and his sons. Remember
that Jotham did what was right himself, but he failed to say "no"
to his family members and their ways of sin. Consequently, his
son Ahaz embraced them fully to his downfall and the crumbling
of his nation (2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16; Isaiah 7:4-9). P.O.
Box 821220, Fort Worth, TX 76182.