There is nothing that I presently believe, teach, or  practice that I would not immediately give up
and repent for having believed, taught, or practiced if I should learn that it is not in harmony with
divine revelation as found in the New Testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Conversely, there is nothing that I presently do not believe, teach, or practice that I would not
embrace immediately if I should learn that it is a part of the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the bible teaches it, my brethren and I will accept it and put it into practice, for we take
seriously 1 Peter 4:11; John 12:48; Luke 6:46 and related passages. Having the foregoing
resolve, we likewise expect every one whom we attempt to teach the will of Christ (if indeed they
claim to believe on Him as the divine Son of the living God, and that the New Testament is indeed
a revelation of His will)  to give up every false belief and practice when we identify the same to
them, and to immediately embrace the truth of Christ into their lives.

How do you like what I have written thus far? Are you in agreement with it? More seriously than
that, is it the attitude one must have toward the will of Jesus Christ in order to stand acceptable
before Him?  I verily believe what I have thus far written and stand by my beginning affirmation.

What really is quite disturbing to me is the fact that I have learned to my chagrin that even though
many in the body of Christ will amen the affirmation: "We speak where the Bible speaks, and are
silent where the Bible is silent," a paraphrase of  1 Peter 4:11 made by Thomas Campbell  many
years ago;  this "slogan" which  became the battle cry among those bent on a "restoration of New
Testament Christianity" on this continent in the middle 1800's,  and even by many until this good
day,  isn't as much of a reality among us as it should be, consequently it  has become a "hollow
slogan" with little true meaning or application to all too many among us. The "digressives" and
"change agents" among us long ago abandoned this slogan because of an unholy and ungodly
attitude toward religious authority.  In fact, I suggest that this slogan is gradually being dropped
even among so called "conservatives" and "non-institutional"  brethren  likewise,  due to a
change among some toward religious authority.  After all, how can one claim this attitude as the
hallmark of one's spiritual life and activities if one is prone to disregard some of the clear
teachings found in the scriptures which demand this of the faithful  disciple of the Lord Jesus
Christ? I am well aware of the need to respect the fact that folks begin as newborn babes in
Christ (1 Peter 2:1-2; Colossians 3:1-5;  2 Corinthians 5:17), and must be given some time
for maturity to come about.  I also realize that we have the weak brethren with whom we must
contend carefully lest we discourage them before maturity is accomplished. What we are
concerned about are those who fall into the category that the Hebrew writer wrote of,  saying,
"For  though  by this  time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the
first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For
everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But
solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14)!

As simply and only Christians, members of the church of Christ, who have accepted and obeyed
Jesus as the Lord of our lives, we expect others to give up just as we did when converted, all
uninspired teachings and traditions of uninspired men , and rightly so. What worries me is that it is
sometimes apparent that some among us are unwilling to continue this attitude later in our lives
after conversion. My brethren, this ought not so to be!  We should be the "standard bearers" of
the true religion of Christ and make any necessary sacrifice to be just such.

       SOME THINGS WE EXPECT CONVERTS TO GIVE UP

1.   That babies are born in sin.(Eze. 18:20; Matthew 18:1-3; 19:14).
2.   Their parents religion (Luke 14:25-35; Matthew 10:34-39).
3.   Sprinkling and pouring for baptism.
4.   The celebration of so called "Holy Days" like Christmas and Easter.
5.   Their unscriptural religious names Baptist-Methodist etc. (1 Cor. 1:10-12).
6.   Their denomination (Psalm 127:1; Matthew 15:13)..
7.   The "once saved always saved" doctrine. (Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 10:12).
8.   The idea of "church of your choice" (Eph. 3:8-11; Eph. 2:13-16; 4:1-6).
9.   The "sinners prayer" for salvation  (Jno. 9:31; 1 Pet. 3:12; Mk. 16:16).
10. The doctrine of "baptized because saved already" (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
11.  Religious titles such as Father-Rev. etc. (Mat.23:8-11; 23:9; Psalm 111:10).
12.  Multiple marriages without biblical right (Mat. 5:31-32; 19:9; Heb. 13:4).
13.  All so called "alternate lifestyles"(Rom. 1:23-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21).
14.  Creed-Catechisms-Articles of Faith-Church Laws, etc. (Acts 2:22-23; Jn. 16:13).
15.  The popular doctrine of "Salvation by Faith Alone" (Heb. 5:9; Mat. 7:21).
16.  The "Direct Operation of The Holy Spirit" in claimed "conversion" (Eph. 6:17)
17.  Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit for today ( 1 Cor. 13:8-13; Heb. 2:1-4; James 1:25

I haven't listed everything by any means that could be listed in such a grouping of false doctrines
and practices, but  this should serve to show that many of us have given up much to become a
Christian, and that we expect those whom we convert to Christ to do the same as we did when
we accepted the Lordship of Jesus.  His authority. His will as revealed in the New Testament
(Mat. 28:18-20; John 17:5; Eph. 1:22-23).

 Alas, it has come to be that many times we hold fast to some of our own ideas and practices
which are just as contrary to the will  of  Christ as are many of those found in denominationalism.
Just because one is a member of the church of Christ doesn't give license to disregard His will.
Actually just the opposite is true. Notice what Paul wrote in the Roman letter,"....and are
confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having a form of knowledge and
truth...You, therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach
that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do
you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your
boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?.." (Romans 2:19-23).

   Some Christians  refuse to fully embrace all of the truth of the religion of Christ and all of its
requirements for faithfulness. How can we expect the Lord to be pleased with us if we simply
exchange one set of doctrinal positions and practices for another? Can we hope to please the
Lord if we refuse to embrace all that  the religion of  Christ demands of us? James answers, No!
(James 1:18-25; 2:14-26).

1.   Acting only where there is authority from Christ (Colossians 3:17).
2.   Determine authority by 1. Command. 2. Approved Apostolic Example. 3. Necessary
inference. Generic or Specific   authority.
3.   Faithful Bible students-Hungering and Thirsting (Matthew 5:6; 2 Tim. 2:15).
4.   Contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 3; 2 Timothy 4:1-8).
5.   Unwilling to attempt to teach others (Acts 8:4; 2 Timothy 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14).
6.   Attend local congregation regularly (Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 20:6-7).
7.   The "one man one woman for life" doctrine (Matthew 19:9).
8.   Pull their part of the load in the local church (1 Thess. 5:11-21; Eph. 4:11-16).
9.   Submit to the spiritual oversight of the elders (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5 etc.)
10. Worship heartily in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-25; 1 Cor. 14:15).
11.  Use only pure speech, without corrupt communication (Ephesians 4:29).
12.  Women will not submit to husbands as head of house (Eph. 5:22-33).
13.  Refuse to dress modestly as commanded (1 Timothy 2:9-14).
14.  Abstain from any of the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).
15.  Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
17.  Fail to attend gospel meetings, weekly bible classes, etc. (1 Cor. 12:14-27).
18.  Fail to pray diligently for government, the sick, the erring, etc. (Luke 18:1).
19.  Visit the sick and  assist others in need (Matthew 25:31-46; Gal. 6:10).
20.  Attempt to restore the erring in meekness (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).

I could extend this list many fold with  things I know the scriptures teach that Christians are
supposed to believe, teach, and practice that are not always readily embraced due to either
ignorance, or a plain old unwillingness to be so restrained or  guided by what the will of the Lord
Jesus is for  our lives.   If you find yourself described in one or more of these areas the kindest
thing I can say to you is repent before it is too late for your immortal soul!

To be in fellowship with the Godhead and with others who are, one must "walk in the light" (1
John 1:1-7). To claim fellowship while walking in darkness makes one  a liar according to the
inspired apostle John (V 6-7). One must "abide in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9-10;
Romans 16:16-18; Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus plainly  said, "He who is not with Me is against Me,
and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matthew 12:30). As was asked by
Elijah of old,  "How long will you halt between two opinions? If  the Lord be God follow Him: but
if  Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). Or as Joshua admonished the people of Israel,
"Choose you this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
(Joshua 24:15).

If you aren't a faithful servant of Jesus Christ let me admonish you to do whatever the will of God
is in your case and keep in mind that "..today is the day of salvation..".(2 Corinthians 6:2. "Now
is the time (for Christ's return) nearer" than it ever was before (Romans 13:12). Now is the time
that Christ "commands all men everywhere to repent..." (Acts 17:30). The day of reckoning is
coming (Acts 17:31; Romans 14:12; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14;  2 Corinthians 5:10-12). Let
us assist you in getting your life back in harmony with the will of Christ.