Articles
Defeating Compromise
Some years back as a young married man with (at the time) two small children, I made a decision altering my life. I made the determination to attend a church of Christ. After several more “visits” and a few home Bible studies, I was baptized. I was neither irreligious nor amoral before I attended the church of Christ. 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 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. After all Jesus promised his apostles when the Holy Spirit came upon them he would guide you into all truth (Jn. 16:13). He also promised it was this truth that freed men from sin. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (Jn. 8:32).
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 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. It is not uncommon to hear incredible statements like this: “Even the most fundamental wrong belief that one can hold, that Jesus is not the Son of God, is not sin.” Often something like this is said to justify fellowshipping some of these fundamental wrong 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). They wrote, however, “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. My salvation and yours does not depend on having all the right answers. Jesus Christ is the only one with all the right answers and that is why we follow Him. The apostles did not agree on everything. They differed on many things ~ (Acts 15:36, Gal. 2:11). Their unifying element was Jesus Christ, and His gospel. Gospel IS NOT believing if Jesus will reign for 1000 years on the earth before taking us to heaven or not. Gospel IS NOT who your church decides should serve as an elder or deacon. 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.”
It is hard to believe that members of our brotherhood wrote this, but they did. 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. As 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.” That 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.
There are many who are looking for something greater than what they now have. They are longing for something upon which they may anchor their hope. They need the distinct and saving gospel of Christ. And when they hear it, if their hearts are honest, they will respond, but they must have something solid upon which they can build their eternity. That foundation is the sold rock of ages; the Lord Jesus and His saving gospel (Rom. 1:16). People need the uncompromising truth of God. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (Jn. 8:32). We must defeat the godless attitude of compromise.
