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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles<\/strong>\u00a0page.]<\/span><\/p>\n The church can remain pure only as long as the doctrine it hears remains true. The New Testament contains numerous warnings about false doctrine and its purveyors, the following being typical:<\/span><\/p>\n If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain (1 Tim. 6:3\u20135).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Those who are shamelessly ignoring such warnings appeal to various factors as bases for their agenda:<\/span><\/p>\n Culture<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n According to them, many things found in the New Tes\u00adtament (which practically all of us have always understood to be obligatory constants) were only rooted in the \u201cculture\u201d in which the first century saints lived.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Tradi\u00adtion<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As with their \u201cculture\u201d assertion, they aver that many things in our practice always deemed obligatory are merely the product of human \u201ctradition\u201d (things long-practiced).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Growth<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n They say that we must radically change to produce numerical growth, which means doing things that appeal to the flesh more than to the spirit of man.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Community Image\/Popular\u00adity<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n They cry that we must \u201ckeep up with the times,\u201d meaning we must imitate and learn to get along with the denominations.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If the change-pushers were advocating changes in non-obligatory matters (e.g., what time to meet, whether to build or rent a place to assemble, et al.), then we could agree that such changes are allowable (albeit, not always expedient or productive). Their change lust runs far be\u00adyond merely optional practices.<\/span><\/p>\n Mark it down: These folk are tampering with obligatory elements of the Gospel. They are masters at combining and confusing optional and obligatory elements in a classic demonstration of \u201cmixing apples and oranges,\u201d knowing that Biblically ignorant saints in the pews cannot discern.<\/span><\/p>\n Obligatory Doctrines Now Being Redefined as Optional<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Following are a few obligatory doctrines and practices that many are now redefining as optional:<\/span><\/p>\n The Plan of Salvation<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Salvation from sin through the blood of Christ and God\u2019s plan for obtaining it are fundamental, yet some are grievously tampering with God\u2019s saving plan. Several are pushing \u201cgrace only\/faith only,\u201d introduced by Calvin and Luther in the sixteenth century. K.C. Moser began urging this heretical doctrine upon the church in the 1930s. Many have since publicly taught that salvation is by \u201cgrace, period.\u201d In the early 1960s some began accusing Gospel preachers of emphasizing \u201cthe plan\u201d over \u201cthe Man [Christ].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Others a few years ago began ridiculing as \u201cfive-steppers\u201d those who tell alien sinners to hear, believe, repent, confess their faith, and be baptized for remission of sins. Predictable results of such doctrinal corruption are evident on the Quail Springs \u201cChurch of Christ\u201d (OK City, OK) Website (quailchurch.com\/): at the time of this writing, forty-five percent<\/strong> of its members believe one can be saved by asking God to \u201ccome into his heart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Worship<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A growing number are asserting that instrumental music in wor\u00adship is optional. In the same Quail Springs poll, only two percent<\/strong> of its members believed the use of instruments in worship was a sin. More and more of them have jumped on the bandwagon of special \u201cpresentation music\u201d (i.e., \u201cpraise teams,\u201d solos, choirs, etc.) in our worship assemblies, which are no more authorized than instruments themselves. Other worship innovations borrowed from the denominations (e.g., responsive readings, \u201cchildren\u2019s church,\u201d applause [during sermons and announcements, at bap\u00adtisms], lifting up hands, serving the Lord\u2019s supper on various days of the week, singing during the Lord\u2019s supper, et al.) are all the rage in some congregations.<\/span><\/p>\n Women\u2019s Leadership Roles<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n An increasing number are working to thrust women into church leadership roles not authorized by God\u2019s Word, such as using women at the Lord\u2019s table, in \u201cpraise teams,\u201d as teachers of mixed adult classes, and as \u201cdeaconesses.\u201d One congregation plans to appoint them as elders (\u201celdresses\u201d?). The West Islip, NY, congregation had a female pulpiteer at one point.<\/span><\/p>\n Hermeneutics<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Some press for change in our principles of Biblical inter\u00adpretation (i.e., a \u201cnew hermeneutic\u201d). They scorn the Scriptural, logical, and time-tested principles of direct statement, implication, the law of inclusion and exclusion, and re\u00adspecting the silence of Scripture as flawed and out-moded. Besides, the \u201cold hermeneutic\u201d principles make us appear self-righteous, judgmental, and legalistic. They urge upon us their own homemade hermeneutic that will al\u00adlow them to corrupt the church and to extend fellowship to the sects and their errors.<\/span><\/p>\n Fellowship<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Several are seeking to redefine fel\u00adlowship<\/em>. They say we have been \u201ctoo narrow.\u201d The worshipers of the \u201cchange gods\u201d tell us that as long as someone believes in the atonement Christ made for our sins and in His Deity, we should call him our brother. ACU professor, Carroll Osburn, pontificates that there should be \u201croom in the\u2026fellowship\u201d for premillennialists, those who believe baptism is \u201cbecause of\u201d remission of sins, those who use instrumental music in worship, those who observe the Lord\u2019s supper other than every Lord\u2019s day, as long as they \u201cbelieve that Christ is the Son of God.\u201d Max Lucado pronounces: \u201cAnyone who calls God his Father is my brother.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Nature of the Church<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Many conceive of the church as a denomination, no longer believing in the ideal of genuine Christianity. \u201cWe need a twenty-first-century church, not a first-century church,\u201d is their theme. They openly deny that there is a pattern for the church. Rubel Shelly and Randy Harris (ACU) wrote a book advocating that the only pattern for the church is the personal life of Christ, and that Acts through Revelation give us only a flawed picture of the church. Some congregations have already changed so much that they are unrecognizable as churches of Christ. They are dishonest to display a sign on their property with \u201cChurch of Christ\u201d on it.<\/span><\/p>\n Why have so many congregations changed in their practice, purpose, and nature? The answer is that they have accepted corrupted doctrine. The seed of the kingdom, the church, is still the Word (Luke 8:10\u201311) and seeds bring forth only \u201cafter their own kind\u201d (Gen. 1:11\u201312; cf. Gal. 6:7). Corn does not grow from watermelon seed, nor the church of Christ from a corrupted \u201cgospel.\u201d The practice of the church results from the doctrine it is fed. Maintain the true message and you maintain the pure practice; corrupt the message and you corrupt the practice<\/strong>. The Lord God has only one plant (the church of Christ), and it proceeds from only one seed (the Gospel of Christ). \u201cEvery plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up\u201d (Mat. 15:13b).<\/span><\/p>\n The Gospel is God\u2019s plan and power for man\u2019s salvation from sin and its consequence of eternal condemnation(Rom. 1:16). The prophets yearned to see this salvation, and the angels were curious about it (1 Pet. 1:10\u201312). The inspired writers styled it the \u201cGospel of God\u201d eight times. Since the Father is immutable, then so must be His Gospel. There could have been no Gospel (no good news of salvation) without Christ\u2019s atoning death on the cross. Ten times the inspired writers referred to the Gospel in reference to the Christ. Since the Son of God is immutable, then so must be His Gospel. Since the Holy Spirit is immutable, then so must be the Gospel He has revealed and confirmed. The immutability of the Godhead is the very foundation of the immutability of the Gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n Noble Motivations for Maintaining the Sound Doctrine of the Gospel<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It Is Blood Bought <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Jesus described the blood He shed on Calvary as \u201cmy blood of the new testament\u201d (Mat. 26:28, KJV). Had He not died there would have been no Gospel. If cost is any indication of worth, then the Gospel, without any alteration, is of greater worth than any human being can imagine. The fact that Jesus bought the Gospel (as well as the church [Acts 20:28]) with His perfect blood should serve as a powerful warning that we dare not change it in any way.<\/span><\/p>\n It Is the Power of God to Save <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Romans 1:16 boldly declares the saving power of the Gospel. The Gospel as given by God, and nothing besides the Gospel, is God\u2019s power to save because it reveals to us God\u2019s plan for our salvation through Christ\u2019s sacrifice. When men pervert it they make it into something different from the Gospel (Gal. 1:6\u20137). Any message that purports to be the Gospel, but which differs from the Gospel, cannot be the Gospel. Only the one Gospel of Christ has the power to save.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Curse of God Is Upon All Who Change It <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Paul called down the anathema of God upon any<\/strong> messengers (heavenly or human) who preached a perverted \u201cgospel\u201d (Gal. 1:8\u20139). He expressed amazement that they had so quickly accepted the polluted message (v. 6). God has not the least patience with those who rearrange His immutable Word to suit themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n I shudder to think of the fate of millions who preach a perverted \u201cgospel,\u201d including those who have departed from our own ranks because they were not content with the Gospel. These have streamlined the doctrine of Christ to make it more palatable, to gain acceptance in denominational circles, to keep their jobs, to appear more erudite, or for some other reason. The multiplied millions of those who are following the Gospel-changers, whether in or out of the church, are following them to their own destruction (Mat. 15:14; Gal. 1:7; 5:4).<\/span><\/p>\n When I was young (many years ago), preachers who were true to the Gospel were almost universally honored, esteemed, supported, and sought. Those who were on the liberal fringe were not tolerated, whether in print, in the pulpit, or on our college campuses, but were kept on the fringe. Human nature has changed little over the centuries. Paul had to deal with rejection from brethren in Galatia and Corinth, not because he preached error, but because he preached the Truth. So must we do now.<\/span><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Solomon said: \u201cMy son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; And company not with them that are given to change\u201d (Pro. 24:21). Those who urge change in our teaching and practice are those who decry the very concept of fearing Jehovah. However, those who revere the Almighty will not dare either to augment or diminish the Gospel by one iota.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, Solomon warned: \u201cCompany not with them that are given to change.\u201d On the one hand we, like Paul, must be determined to shrink not from \u201cdeclaring the whole counsel of God\u201d and are \u201cset for the defence of the gospel\u201d (Acts 20:27; Phi. 1:16). On the other hand, many have ceased to \u201cgive the more earnest heed to the things that were heard [the Gospel]\u201d and have already \u201cdrifted away from them\u201d (Heb. 2:1).<\/span><\/p>\n While some of us remain firmly rooted in the apostles\u2019 doctrine, others have cut themselves loose from its restrictions. Thinking themselves now \u201cfree,\u201d they have foolishly become the slaves of error. The eventual extent of their apostasy is anyone\u2019s guess, but many of them have adopted seed principles sufficiently corrupt to lead them into Universalism. It is not a question of whether<\/strong> we must cease to have any company with them, but only of when<\/strong>. Some are so far gone that fellowshiping them would constitute fellowshipping the denominations, which they have already embraced. The cause of it all is their determination to change the unchangeable Gospel, and thus the church.<\/span><\/p>\n The Gospel is the incorruptible seed, \u201cthe word of God, which liveth and abideth forever\u201d (1 Pet. 1:23, KJV). God allows men free will to alter, add to, take from, mutilate, explain away, make merchandise of, or abuse it in a thousand ways. However, when they finish, the Gospel will still be stubbornly standing there as God\u2019s perfect will and standard at the Judgment (John 12:48). The way it reads now is precisely the way it will read on the Last Great Day. Men do not really change the Gospel; it stands as God gave it\u2014utterly immutable. When men begin to tamper with the doctrine of Christ, it becomes merely another false, damning religious message. Without sound doctrine there can be no sound church.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this MS, and it originally appeared as an \u201cEditorial Perspective\u201d in the June 2003 issue of The Gospel Journal, <\/em>a 36-page monthly of which I was editor at the time.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles\u00a0page.] The church can remain pure only as long as the doctrine it hears remains true. The New Testament contains numerous warnings about false doctrine and its purveyors, the following being typical: If…<\/p>\n