YBible Thoughts Y

August 9, 1998

The apostle Paul is warning the elders at Ephesus of the danger of false teachers(grievous wolves) invading the church and drawing away the disciples from the truth. Even from among those to whom he is speaking, there would arise those who reject the truth. In fact, it does not take long for those who are unhappy with God's way to make an inroad into congregations, and, yes--elders.

Elders are responsible for leading, feeding, and protecting the flock over which they are made overseers(Acts 20:28). Their readiness to stand for the truth and oppose unrighteous teaching and practices are assigned to them as shepherds. There will be, in every age, those who are like ravening wolves that would infect and destroy the flock of God in a community. Disguised as servants of God,they bring tainted food(error) and unrighteous practices (departure from truth) among the saints and lead individuals and flocks into digression.

Digression is nothing new to the saints. Obviously, from the above, it existed within the lifetime of those to whom Paul was speaking. Through the intervening centuries, in spite of all of the teaching, all of the leading, all of the pleading, and all of the rebuking, men depart from the teachings of truth and go the way of sectarianism and apostasy. From the Roman Catholic apostasy to the "Christian" church to the modern liberals destroying the uniqueness of God's church, digression has led many souls away from God.

It is not new in our day. Since the first parasitic human institution in the early 1900s to the latest innovation of men, the Lord's body has been troubled and divided by those who are unhappy with the way of the Lord. In pleasant speeches, heart-rending appeals, and guilt complexing, what was only a small problem before World War II has become a tidal wave of institutions and practices tied to the church for which there is not one ounce of Bible authority.

Appealing to the masses to continue their allegiance to such departures from the New Testament, it becomes necessary to introduce more and more activities that were bred by denominational thinking. Not satisfied with missionary societies, welfare institutions supported from church treasuries, schools and hospitals funneling money from churches, turning buildings into soup kitchens (fellowship halls), and on and on., they are now substituting entertainment and recreation for the preaching, teaching, and practicing of God's word. Aping the denominations, some will approve of instrumental music, soften their stance on the necessity of baptism, and attack Bible principles and teachings as tradition. Such false teachers seek to make the Lord's church nothing more than a denomination among denominations.

In order to understand how far the liberal-minded "churches of Christ" have gone in their teachings and practices, observe the following advertisement that originally appeared in The Athens News-Courier. This copy has been adapted from The Sower, edited by Eugene Britnell.(Words are same as used in ad.)
 

How is it possible for a group that wears the name of Christ to endorse and sponsor such? They use "guitars, bass, drums and percussion"(Palmetto Messenger via The Sower). How long will it be until they bring the organ and piano in for their services on Sunday? It is feared that it will not be long.

A most valuable lesson can be learned from what is happening among many churches of Christ. Once an allowance is made for a teaching and/or practice that has no Bible authority to justify it, the road to apostasy is open to more radical departures from the divine pattern. As that road widens, more and more of the sectarian and denominational world will be introduced into churches of Christ who have left the word of God.

The only safe course for any congregation belonging to Christ is to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus"(Colossians 3:17). Only by seeking book, chapter, and verse for every teaching and practice can we expect to remain the Lord's church.