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If an intellectually challenged person cheers with equal zeal for both teams on the football field, it is understandable—perhaps the unfortunate fellow knows no better. If a fan with even average intelligence cheers loudly for both teams, it is irrational behavior and is not considered normal.
One thing the Bible frequently emphasizes is the necessity of choosing God or Satan, Truth or error, good or evil (Exo. 32:26; Deu. 30:15–19; Jos. 24:15; Mat. 6:24; 12:30; 2 Cor. 6:14– 7:1; Eph. 5:11; et al.). A malignant virus is now running rampant through the body of Christ causing many brethren to “cheer for both teams.” They make no distinction between Truth and error, good and evil. They are “cheering” the devil as much as God! The “Unity in Diversity” lunacy spawned several years ago by Carl Ketcherside and nourished by Leroy Garrett is a prime example of “cheering for both teams.” It equates error with Truth and values heretics more than Gospel preachers.
A prime illustration of this irrational behavior is before us. The largest university supported by our brethren has announced its annual “Preachers Fellowship Day,” featuring brother Milton Jones of Seattle, WA. He will speak three times, including a chapel address to the student body. He is best known for his book, Discipling: The Multiplying Ministry (endorsed without reservation by Joe Barnett). It is basically a “warmed over” version of The Master Plan of Evangelism, by Robert E. Coleman. Coleman’s book was the blueprint of Chuck Lucas’ Crossroads Movement, which has now evolved into the hideous Boston Church. Jones took Coleman’s ideas and put them in words more palatable to our brethren. The administration of said university is hereby “cheering” for the Crossroads/Boston/Multiplying Ministry heresy, giving one of its foremost advocates a platform before several hundred preachers and several thousand students.
However, they have “cheered” for the other side, too. Brother Flavil Yeakley, Jr. is the university’s “church growth” specialist. Not long ago he was the primary author of the book. The Discipling Dilemma, a rather strong expose’ of the discipling movement, the very thing Jones advocates in his book! Talk about mixed signals, “Unity in Diversity,” irrationality, and confusion—here we have it. (Were I brother Yeakley, I think I might ask them whose side they were on.) Remember, if we are not for Christ exclusively (including His Word and those who are faithful to it), we are against Him (Mat. 12:30).
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, September 14, 1989, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
