____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "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). ____________________________________________________ December 7, 1997 ____________________________________________________ Sign Posts on the Road to Denominationalism by Roy E. Cogdill One of the very evident indications of a sectarian attitude and a movement upon the part of liberal churches of Christ today toward denominationalism is a change of message or emphasis in preaching. This is as evident as the changes in organization and methods that we have been writing about. All of it is very definite evidence of a difference in attitude toward the Word of God. The difference in the preaching that is heard now and that of just a few years ago is evident in the fact that there is very little actual preaching of the Bible. Fundamental doctrines have been laid aside. Denominational error is no longer condemned. Religious bodies are rarely ever criticized for what they do or say; and even when they are, the name and identity must not be made known. The plain, positive preaching of a distinctive New Testament message is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Unity upon the basis of love, toward fellowship, that is the order of the day. Nice, eloquent speeches full of ``sweet little nothings'' that will emotionally stir up the people and bring responses to the invitation are the demand. ``Hell Fire and Damnation'' preaching is out of order, for so many do not believe in it any longer. Just a very few of the ``ancient landmarks'' are adhered to in the preaching that is being done now. How long has it been, my brother, since you heard the preacher to whom you listen, condemn the popular sins of the day: dancing, drinking, gambling, etc.? How long has it been since you heard your preacher condemn denominational and sectarian organizations? How long since you heard the sectarian methods of money raising condemned by the teaching of the Word of God? Liberal preachers today are giving only lip service and sometimes not too much of that to such fundamental themes as ``one Faith, one baptism, and one body.'' Such themes as ``divine Authority'' are forgotten. Instead we are being told on every hand that we need no authority! The undenominational character of the church is no longer emphasized and the old slogans, scriptural in principle whether in word or not, are no longer pressed upon the attention and consciences of the people of God -- ``We speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent where the Bible is silent'' -- ``We call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways.'' Of course, if we are not going to practice them, we should quit preaching them! In the slackening of opposition to denominational doctrines, organizations, and to the very spirit and core of sectarian religion, there is very strong evidence of our drift toward this same end. Protestant denominationalism is impotent in its opposition to Roman Catholicism today and has been all along because its heritage is largely Catholic in origin. There are too many of the ``relics of Rome'' in all of the Protestant bodies from them to militantly and successfully oppose Catholicism. They are non-protestant. Even so many of the preachers and congregations among the so-called ``churches of Christ'' today are dis-armed before they start opposing denominational error because they have adopted too many of the things that originate therein. Very few of the denominational bodies around us are giving any more emphasis to ``social gospel'' preaching and activity than many of the brethren. A few years ago, preachers like Foy E. Wallace, Jr. were crying out from one end of this country to the other against the demand for a ``new and social gospel.'' In clear and ringing tones that still resound in the hearts of many of us who were inspired by him and others then, all error in and out of the church was condemned and the ``perversion'' of the Gospel of Christ into a ``Social Gospel'' was anathematized with all of the power and eloquence of the prophets of old when they cried out against the departures and unfaithfulness of Israel in the long ago. What a pitiful spectacle he is now, as he becomes the agent and tool of the liberal element among the churches and condones and endorses and seeks to build up that which he once destroyed. A recent paper from a ``benevolent society'' called an ``Old Folks Home'' stated that he had investigated its organization and its operation and endorsed it in every detail and that they were free to use his name and influence for their promotions in whatever way they wished. Now whatever name and influence he may have among brethren today will not mean much to those who remember him in days gone by. A sell out is too evident! Will he try to defend and justify such a change in attitude by the Word of God? No, he, along with the rest, knows that there is no scriptural justification for such a change in attitude toward God's Word. With faces set toward Home, they march on and choose to ignore those along the way who cry out against their unfaithfulness and their unbelief and warn them that ``men-pleasers cannot be servants of Christ.'' Those who once rose up to defend what they preached and practiced, choose to withdraw from the field of battle and try to make themselves secure in the valley of compromise. They may fatten for awhile but eventually the ``anathemas'' of the Lord, which once they sounded out, will sweep them out of their ``refuge of lies'' and leave their pitiful plight exposed to God's righteous judgment. We find no delight in their condemnation, but grief. We would save them if we could, and we still love them, but when bitter resentment is the only response to every appeal that can be made, there is nought left to do but grieve and pray that they may see the error of their way. We must remember, ``Tis the same old Gospel story, Just as beautiful and true, Just as full of Jesus power, As it was when it was new. '' -- March 17, 1966 ___________________________________________ A knowledge of the Bible without a college education is more valuable than a college education without a knowledge of the Bible. ___________________________________________ Hawthorne's Success by Jere E. Frost Divine principles of truth are simply that -- truths! They are truths that work. The renowned writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, accounts for his success in two incidents of encouragement, of someone having faith in him. He had a friend, Horatio Bridges, who attended a small college in the country with him. Horatio predicted that Nathaniel would be a great writer. One of his works was dedicated to Horatio with these beginning lines: ``If anybody is responsible at this day for my being an author, it is yourself. I know not whence your faith came; but while we were lads together ...'' We all strive to live up to the expectations of those who love and believe in us. Secondly, there was the occasion when he had suffered some reversals and was discouraged and despondent. He was beaten. But his frail wife did not think so. She put a pen, paper and ink before him, and since other doors had closed for him, said, ``Now you can write your book.'' He was later to express his gratitude for the timeliness of her encouragement, saying that she was a ``flower lent from heaven to show the possibilities of a human soul.'' Let's all be open and receptive to encouragement, but even more particularly let us all be encouragers. Let us be mindful to reprove and rebuke when necessary, but never forget to top it off with encouragement. There may be a soul who, as dry ground, is ready to soak it up and cause grass and flowers to grow again. -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, November 9, 1997 ___________________________________________ Christian Fellowship by Tracy Schell In reading the book of Acts you will learn that the early Christians spent a lot of time in each other's company. ``And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common'' (Acts 2:42-44). There were many reasons why they were together at this time, but one of the reasons was so that they could exhort and encourage one another. All of us can benefit from being exhorted, but new converts especially need to be encouraged. One reason it is so important to attend as many services as humanly possible is that it gives us a chance to encourage and exhort one another. But we should not limit our fellowship and encouragement strictly to the church building either. James urges us to remain unspotted from the world; Paul urges us not to be conformed to it (James 1:27; Rom. 12:1-2). If we are to remain unspotted and unconformed, we will need all the help and encouragement we can get from one another. ``But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin'' (Hebrews 3:13). Notice that the scripture says "daily." We should be exhorting one another on a daily basis! How can we exhort one another daily if we do not see each other? Thanks to modern conveniences and technology, this is easier than ever. We have had cars and the telephone, and now we have e-mail. We really have no excuse for not reaching out to one another, and it's something we all can do and use -- lest we be hardened by sin, as the scripture warns. If we spend all of our time away from church with non-believers, how will we grow spiritually? If our contact with one another is limited only to the building, how can we exhort one another daily as the scripture tells us? As you go through each day, ask yourself, ``Have I been encouraged in the Lord today?'' ``Have I encouraged a brother or sister in Christ today?'' ``Has the day provided me with any spiritual sustenance?'' If your answer to any of those questions was ``no,'' then you need to make some changes in your day-to-day routine for the benefit of your eternal soul! Make a note of it now while it is fresh on your mind! -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, July 13, 1997 ___________________________________________ FREE BIBLE COURSES We are currently offering two types of Bible correspondence courses: John Hurt 8-lesson course and a 6-lesson course on the book of Acts. Call today. ___________________________________________ The Pagan Reverence that Rebukes Many Believers It is said that Alexander the Great offered the people of Ephesus all of the spoils of his eastern campaign if they would inscribe his name on the temple of Artemis, but they refused to do it. That temple had been dedicated to the goddess Artemis. They regarded it as her temple and they would not therefore allow a human name on it, no matter how great the name might be. They reasoned that it would dishonor Artemis if Alexander's name should be inscribed on the temple. What a rebuke to people of today who place human names on that which they regard as the temple of God! Peter says the church is the temple of God. Then why attach human names on that which is His, thereby dishonoring Him? -- Selected via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, July 13, 1997 ___________________________________________ BIBLE FILM SLIDES If you would like to begin a 5-lesson series, using Bible film slides in your home, just contact us today. We can help make it happen! ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________