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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n All right, I admit it: I am a \u201cchange agent\u201d! Unquestionably, there are some things about and in the Lord\u2019s church that need to be changed, and I want to do my best to change them. The Lord\u2019s people should not be afraid of change\u2014of the right kind. In fact, every faithful saint should want to be an agent to facilitate certain changes in the church. Let me put your mind at ease right now. The changes in the church I believe we need to make are not even fourth cousins to those that certain renegade erstwhile brethren are so zealously urging.<\/span><\/p>\n The liberal change agents claim that they only want to change some cultural, traditional \u201changovers\u201d from past generations. Then they start playing with the worship (not just the order of the authorized acts, but with the practices\u2014the acts themselves), placing women in worship leadership roles, altering the plan of salvation, and tinkering with church organization. Some of these fellows have made it clear that they either do not know the difference between things optional and things obligatory, or they think that those of us who resist them are too demented to make the distinction. The motivation of some is to \u201cdo whatever it takes\u201d to bring numerical growth that rivals that of the fast-growing denominations. Others push for change to escape the charge of narrow-mindedness by denominational preachers and\/or academic associates. The model of such agents of change is the fashionable \u201ccommunity\u201d church concept. Their means is to denominationalize the church of the living God\u2014without batting an eye.<\/span><\/p>\n Just such change agents a century ago took a large percentage of the bride of Christ into the figurative whoredom of denominationalism (and to think that some of the current change advocates fancy themselves \u201crestoration historians\u201d!). I do not know about you, dear reader, but I do not want the church of Christ to go there again, and I will do all that I can to be an \u201canti-change agent\u201d for all such changes.<\/span><\/p>\n Having said all this, I still believe I must do what I can to bring about certain changes in my brethren and myself. In fact, I have been such a change advocate ever since my first miserable attempt to preach a sermon on that Lord\u2019s Day evening in Boise, Idaho, in 1954! The changes I seek are not in such things as the plan of salvation, the organization, work, worship, and designation of the church, or in our hermeneutical principles\u2014the very things the liberals are so ferociously assaulting. These are clearly set forth in the New Testament, and they have been restored wherever men and women have been content to faithfully adhere to the Bible alone. The New Testament pattern setting forth these matters has been successfully defended on the polemic platform hundreds of times over almost two centuries. No Johnny-come-lately academic, big city pulpiteer, or best-selling author can take the pattern from us, though they would give ever-so-much to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n No, the changes I see we need to make have to do with the practical application of the will of the Lord, rather than with changes in the pattern for the church that we have somehow missed along the way. Let me now suggest some of the areas in which I believe we all should be \u201cchange agents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Selfishness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If there is a single \u201cbesetting sin\u201d that is more common (and more the cause of other sins) than selfishness, I do not know what it might be. I have for several years challenged brethren to whom I have preached to name a single sin (except one sin done in ignorance) that does not have selfishness at its root. I have never found anyone who could name one. In fact, a sin done in ignorance might possibly be due to selfishness\u2014selfish pursuits that were placed before Bible study. Murder, theft, fornication, physical assault, rape\u2014name what crime or sin you will; selfishness is at its root.<\/span><\/p>\n Most brethren will never become involved in criminal activities. However, brethren do become involved in various wrong and extremely harmful things caused by selfishness. These acts cause much damage to the Lord\u2019s church and will cause their perpetrators to be eternally lost if they fail to repent of them. While many congregations are necessarily dividing over obligatory doctrinal concerns in these stressful times (thanks to the liberal change agents), many other divisions have no doctrinal basis whatsoever. Preachers, elders, deacons, teachers, song leaders (and wives of all of these), rich folk, poor folk, and all other sorts have been guilty of dividing congregations from time to time simply because they had to have things done their way or \u201celse.\u201d This else <\/em>almost always spells disaster! When someone or ones divide a congregation over the color of paint on the wall or carpet on the floors, or whether or not brethren can purchase religious books on church property, selfishness (not to mention Satan) has triumphed again.<\/span><\/p>\n When one considers the fundamental relationship of selfishness to all forms of sin, he will not wonder at the frequency of the subject in the New Testament. When Jesus said that His followers must \u201cdeny self,\u201d selfishness was His target (Luke 9:23). As God\u2019s people, we should put aside selfish pursuits and seek to edify those who are weak (Rom. 15:1-2). Christians should \u201cno longer live unto themselves,\u201d but unto Christ (2 Cor. 5:15). Selfishness caused brethren to desert Paul in an hour of great need: \u201cFor they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ\u201d (Phi. 2:21; cf. 2 Tim. 4:10). Paul prophesied that grievous times in the \u201clast days\u201d would be characterized in part by men who would be \u201clovers of self\u201d (2 Tim. 3:2). Dozens of other passages follow the same theme, making freedom from selfishness one of the most pivotal of all New Testament themes. I urge us all to become agents of change concerning the character flaw of selfishness, each beginning with him\u2013or herself. Just imagine what a revolution this would work in every congregation!<\/span><\/p>\n Materialism<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n So many of the Lord\u2019s people are so wedded to this world and its trapping and trinkets that they could more accurately be called \u201cthe world\u2019s people.\u201d One can see people by the thousands in the church who have their affections firmly set on \u201cthe things that are upon the earth,\u201d rather than seeking \u201cthe things that are above\u201d (Col. 3:1\u20132). This shows in the contribution plate on the Lord\u2019s Day. One\u2019s values would seem to be seriously \u201cout of whack\u201d when his financial contribution relating to a home in Heaven equals only a small fraction of what he or she spends on an earthly dwelling. Some brethren spend more for one day of the year (\u201cChristmas\u201d) than they give to the Lord all year. Others spend more on their two-week vacation than they do the rest of the year on the only work that will survive The Last Day. With some, it is not just a matter of money, but of time and attention that are so riveted on earthly \u201csuccess,\u201d amassing wealth, and providing every conceivable creature comfort for their families, that they have no time even to assemble regularly with the saints, much less to advance the cause for which Christ died.<\/span><\/p>\n It is not sinful to be wealthy. There will doubtless be many wealthy folk in Heaven, although the Lord said that reaching it is more difficult for them (Mat. 19:24). We even know the names of some of them who succeeded (Mat. 8:11). It is sinful to love wealth so much that its pursuit drives and consumes us (which fact is closely related to the Bible\u2019s consistent condemnation of selfishness). The love of money will always be a root of all kinds of evil, leading men astray and bringing them to regret in both time and eternity (1 Tim 6:10\u201311).<\/span><\/p>\n We should not be surprised that the Lord urged his followers to be more concerned about laying up treasures in Heaven than upon the Earth (Mat. 6:19\u201334). It was at the conclusion of this context that He spoke the famous and familiar challenge: \u201cBut seek ye [in contrast to what people in the world seek] first his [God\u2019s] kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you\u201d (Mat. 6:33). Every one of the numerous Scriptural warnings against covetousness are a condemnation of materialism. Paul\u2019s instructions to the Corinthians constitute a manual on how to view and use our money so as to overcome materialism. We are to give regularly, proportionately, liberally, willingly, bountifully, purposefully, ungrudgingly, cheerfully, and hopefully (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:1\u201315; 9:1\u201315).<\/span><\/p>\n Should we not all be change agents concerning the grievous and widespread curse of materialism among the saints?<\/span><\/p>\n Church Discipline<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The flaws of selfishness and materialism relate principally to individual behavior (although, arguably, some entire congregations have fallen prey to these also). \u201cChurch discipline\u201d also relates to individual behavior (i.e., a congregation cannot do what its members will not do). However, I want to consider this subject from the standpoint of congregational action, and especially, the terminal step of discipline\u2014withdrawal of fellowship.<\/span><\/p>\n Congregations so seldom discipline their own members that the mandate to do so has been called \u201cthe forgotten commandment.\u201d One would think from the sparseness of the practice that brethren either do not understand the Bible\u2019s instruction or that no impenitent public sinners can be found in any congregation of God\u2019s elect. Alas, neither represents reality. New Testament teaching on this subject is plain and profuse (e.g., Mat. 18:15\u201317; Acts 8:20\u201323; Rom. 16:17\u201318; 1 Cor. 5:1\u201313; Gal. 6:1; 2 The. 3:6, 14\u201315; 1 Tim. 1:19\u201320; Tit. 1:10\u201314; 3:10). Moreover, there is likely open sin in most sizeable congregations.<\/span><\/p>\n What happens when a congregation fails to discipline itself?<\/span><\/p>\n All who love the Lord and respect His Word should become \u201cchange agents\u201d concerning the neglect of congregational discipline, if it is not a part of the work of their congregations. It must be done out of love\u2014for the sinner, for the church, for God\u2019s Word, and for the Lord Who purchased the church with the price of His blood (Acts 20:28). It is not the most enjoyable part of serving the Lord, but it is a necessary part. Brethren have offered many excuses for not obeying the Lord in this matter, but it really boils down to the degree of respect we have for His Word.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, I boldly and strongly advocate change from the neglect of implementing God\u2019s will in all three of these areas!<\/span><\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this MS, and it originally appeared as an \u201cEditorial Perspective\u201d in the May 2001 issue of The Gospel Journal, <\/em>a 36-page monthly of which I was editor at the time.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution: <\/strong>Printed from TheScripturecache.com<\/em>, owned and administered by Dub McClish.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles page.] Introduction All right, I admit it: I am a \u201cchange agent\u201d! Unquestionably, there are some things about and in the Lord\u2019s church that need to be changed, and I want to…<\/p>\n\n