Articles
Defeating Compromise
Spiritual Food For Spiritual Thought
Some years back as a young married man with, at the time, two small children, I made a decision altering my life, to attend a church of Christ. After several more “visits” and a few home Bible studies, I was baptized.
At the time of my baptism, I was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene. I was a “Sunday School” teacher, active in the Nazarene Young People’s Society (NYPS); involved in youth ministries and a member of the choir. Upon my obedience to the gospel, I severed my association with the Church of the Nazarene because I had become convinced that I was believing, teaching and practicing error.
Hearing sermons, reading religious articles, attending Bible studies and especially reading my Bible I concluded that I must believe, teach and practice Truth (Jn. 8:31-32).
Also as a novice Christian I soon learned the warning issued by the apostle John in 2 Jn. 9-11. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Concluding that many things I formally believed to be true were in-fact false meant I had to rearrange my belief system and actions. At this point in my spiritual life I firmly believed some things were wrong and some things were right. Those firmly held beliefs were not unique with me, but brethren commonly united upon what was right and what was wrong. That was then, this is now.
Today, if I were an active member in the Church of the Nazarene and visited some “churches of Christ” I might not learn that a change was needed in my life. Today, instead of portraying the church as the pillar and ground of the truth, (1 Tim. 3:15), many are working diligently to present the church as tolerant to a diverse array of religious thoughts and practices. Some churches have become repositories of false beliefs. Consequently, some local churches of Christ are becoming no different from many denominations.
To illustrate this let me invite you to read a paragraph I lifted from an article written by some “gospel preachers” about grace. They claimed not to be “ecumenical” (willing to accept anything and everyone). However, their writing contradicts their claim: “There are truths that are not subject to compromise. The first level core gospel issues (Eph. 4:5), are simply non-negotiable. Theories on Premillennialism, apostasy, miracles, discipleship - (dancing, drinking, etc.) and church government (name of the church, eldership) are not salvation issues…Our salvation is not based on the decisions of the church, it is between you and God (or God and I ). My salvation is not in question due to the actions of others, or the actions or decisions of members who worship where I do.”
According to this article, the only things non-negotiable in all the Bible are listed in Eph. 4:5, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Seems to me God wasted a lot of time and effort including a lot of insignificant teaching. So long as one believes in these core elements of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, then anything else one believes, teaches or practices are not salvation issues.
Therefore, if a church becomes premillennial, uses instruments of music, has a choir, has a basketball team, selects women elders, serves coffee at the Lord’s Supper, provides dancing for its members and serves alcoholic beverages to its “mature” adults and is called the “All Saints Church,” it is still in fellowship with Christ. That is precisely what this quote is advocating. So, I raise this question. If I were in the Nazarene Church today, and I came into an assembly where the above was being championed, or where things were being said that accommodated these conclusions. What would prompt me to make a change?
Some might believe that the best thing we can do to reach the world is to — in the words of politicians — “broaden our tent.” This is simply a lie spun by the devil. Satan is determined to remake the church to reflect the world. Local churches, local elderships and gospel preachers and you better gird up for battle. There is a fight underway for the “life” of the church. Some are bent on ripping it from the parameters of truth and planting it squarely in the midst of denominationalism. Each believer must enter this spiritual warfare. There can be no bystanders.
Paul wrote in 2 Tim. 4:2-4, Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
We must defeat the godless attitude of compromise.
