Challenges Confronting the church

By:  M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

97053

12/21/97 - Rapid City, SD

 

I.  Introduction.

A.   11 days from now will be the year 1998.  Hard to believe.  As we approach the end of '97, the Lord's church is confronted with many problems and challenges it must overcome.

1.      there are some unprecedented efforts being made by many in the church to fashion it completely as a denomination.

2.      There are a myriad of efforts being made by men who wish to compromise Biblical teaching on such issues as MDR, fellowship with erring brethren, as well as necessity of baptism & security of the believer.

3.      There are many challenges being made by brethren on the way we derive Biblical authority.

a.     many guided by their feelings and intuition rather than a "thus says the Lord."

b.     Many are challenging/deriding our method of obtaining authority for practices in religion.  (i.e., Apostolic example, Direct command, Necessary Inference.)

4.      Many are striving to implement instruments of music into worship.

a.     several preachers now call the lack of use of IM as a "tradition of our heritage."  Many simply do not care anymore about what the Bible teaches concerning this important issue.

5.      The role of women in the church is being transformed in front of our eyes in many places.

B.    Challenges to the truth should come as no surprise to us.  God warned us that the day would come when there would be a departure from the truth.

1.     2 Pet. 2:1-2

2.     Paul writing to Ephesian elders - Acts 20:26-27

C.    Let us stand ready TODAY to give a defense to God's way.  Let us be prepared to stand up for what the Bible teaches and what the Bible teaches alone.

D.   Let us never compromise!  We are Christians and Christians ONLY & we should seek to serve God by using the Bible as our sole authority.

 

II.  Challenges We Face.

A.   Changes in Worship Practices.

1.     Worship has always been a playground for Satan.  Satan can attach here and prey on our emotions and intuition and cause one to forget what the Bible teaches.

B.    Challenges to Scriptural Worship.  (There are many today - all on different fronts.)

1.     Drama Presentations.  [consists of actors/actresses performing plays in the assembly]

a.     What does Mk. 16:15 say?  Go into all the world and ACT the gospel to every creature?

b.     Instead in 1 Cor. 1:21 we read….

c.     The Bible is silent concerning drama in worship.  Therefore we cannot engage in it.

2.     Changes in Lord's Supper.

a.     some now insisting L.S., can be held on any day of wk., because Jesus would want us to remember Him anytime.

b.     NT Christians under divine guidance of apostles.  They portook of the L.S., every Sunday and only on  Sunday.

c.     See Mt. 26:26-29; Acts 2:42; 20:6-11; 1 Cor. 11:2-34; 16:1-2

3.     Hand Clapping.

a.     two forms - during worship in song/form of applause - usually after baptism or during a sermon.

1.      argument made that hand clapping is the 20th century form of "Amen."

b.     often, hand clapping aimed at performer whose skills merit recognition.

c.     There is a difference between hand clapping and "Amen."

1.      "Amen" is a vocal affirmation of the truthfulness & certainty of God's Word.  "Amen" is aimed at the words spoken, not the speaker.

d.     Hand clapping is not authorized in the NT, so we need to stay away from it.

4.     Religious Holidays.

a.     Becoming more and more a problem.  Saw debate recently by a preacher in the Lord's church who defended placing Xmas tree in the building.

1.     some holding Xmas services

2.     Xmas pageants

3.     Choral performances singing Xmas songs on a religious theme during worship.

b.     Just an example of the sellout that many Christians are engaging in - to their human reasoning or feeling.

c.     If Almighty God had wanted us to observe the birth of Christ in the worship assembly or any ANYTHING pertaining to the church - don't you think it would be in the NT?  He would have indicated so in Scripture.

d.     Christians must understand that we have been commanded to come together and remember the Lord's death each Sunday during the Lord's Supper. Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26

e.     To argue that Christians should celebrate Xmas as a religious holiday in the worship service is to go outside the bounds of Scriptural authority.

5.  Other challenges to worship.

a.     contemporary vs. traditional worship services

b.     Praying to God as "Daddy."

c.     Preaching that downplays "book, chapter, verse" teaching

d.     Dedicating babies

e.     If it feels good - do it principle.

6.  We must be content with the simple worship directions given to us by God!  It's so simple!

a.     When Christians come together to worship God = they must:  sing praises - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

b.     Pray - Acts 20:36

c.     Give of their means - 1 Cor. 16:1-2

d.     Partake of the Lords Supper - Acts 20:7

e.     Hear preaching of the gospel - Acts 20:7

B.  Watered Down Preaching.

1.      Many now argue that the Lord's church is no longer "relevant" to today's society & we must amend our teaching/preaching to the way of the '90's.

a.      Restoration plea - something Christians used to be proud to speak of - let us speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent when the Bible is silent is beginning to fall by the wayside.

b.     Some believe those of us who preach "book, chapter, verse" to be meanspirited.

2.      Much of the preaching the world hears today is made up of psychology, felt needs, current events, and pleasant clichés.

a.     Problem of Isrealites - Isa. 30:9-10; Jer. 5:31

b.     Many now would never do as Paul in Acts 20:31 - warn people of danger and destructive doctrines.

c.     Truth is dispensed in small, watered down doses so that it lacks the power to convict sinners of sin.

3.      Need preachers who will preach truth in clean, emphatic, unmistakable language.

a.     Need preachers who will preach with a sense of urgency!

b.     Need preachers who will preach what the Bible says on any subject and all the Bible says on the subject, and only what the Bible says on the subject!

4.      The Scriptures command preachers/teachers of gospel to do so.

a.     Acts 20:27 - declare the whole counsel of God

b.     Gal. 1:10 - seek to please God & not men.

c.     1 Thess. 5:21 - prove all things holding fast to what is good.

d.     1 Pet. 3:5 - be willing to give answer to those who ask about Christianity.

e.     2 Tim. 4:2 - Preach the Word!

f.      Jude 3 - contend earnestly for the faith!

g.     Eph. 4:15 - speak the truth in love.

h.     Jhn. 8:32 - teach truth - so men may be set free from bondage of sin.

i.      How many preachers do this today?

5.      Weak preaching?  Weak church members.  Strong preaching?  Strong Christians.

C.    Women's Role in the Church.

1.     Feminism making presence felt in church today.  Women are gradually being inserted into leadership roles.

a.     waiting on Lord's table

b.     singing solos - directing choirs

c.     reading scripture before the group

d.     Leading prayer.

2.     Defend such practices with following arguments:

a.     The scriptural limitation placed on women in the NT pertained only to women of the first century because of their culture.

b.     Passage only applied to certain domineering and overbearing women therefore does not apply today.

3.     Mike Cornwell has said, Subjection <as found in Scripture> is not culture but creation.

a.     1 Cor. 11:3

b.     1 Cor. 11:8-9

c.     1 Cor. 14:34-35

d.     1 Tim. 2:11-12 - God wants men only to lead in mixed worship services.

4.     Although male and female equal before God in terms of salvation and worth, God chose to assign different functions & responsibilities to men and women.

5.     Let us realize what the Bible teaches on this subject.  God will take vengeance on all wrongdoers.

D.   Instrumental Music.

1.     More and more see no harm whatsoever with IM.

a.     Arguments are usually derived from emotion and not Scripture.  For example:

1.     IM is an accompaniment to natural singing - what can be the harm of such?

2.     IM is not a big matter.  What is the big deal?

3.     Where is one verse that expressly prohibits IM?

4.     IM will be in heaven - so why not in the church here on earth?

b.     Special music just the beginning.  (i.e., solos, choirs, etc. - just preparing the ground to make seeds of IM easier to plant in a few years.)

2.     What does the Bible teach?

a.     IM in not in the NT.  "Singing" is all that is found.

1.     Eph. 5:19

2.     Col. 3:16

b.     To have IM in worship violates the law of faith.

1.     Rom. 10:17 - faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

2.     It is by His word that we worship. (i.e., sing, give, LS, preach, pray)

3.     Law of faith forbids Christians from going beyond the things that have been written.

4.     2 Jhn. 9 also comes to mind.

E.    Acceptance of Denominationalism.

1.      Max Lucado - When I see someone calling God Father and Jesus Savior, I meet a brother or a sister - regardless of their church or denomination.

2.      Many now teaching not to give up denominational affiliation, or history, etc., should just all love one another for who they are.

3.      Many compromise by saying they are Christians only but not the only Christians.

a.     As a result, many members of the church view themselves as being no different than the church next door or the one down the street.

b.     Churches of Christ having full fellowship with denominational churches.

c.     Exchanging pulpits

d.     Participating in special community services under guise of ecumenical participation.

4.      Friends - the church that I belong to is NOT a denomination!

a.     Never has been - never will be!

b.     Mt. 16:18

c.     Eph. 4:4-5

d.     If denominations are acceptable - where are they in the NT?  Instead, Paul condemned the very practice that many are now embracing.  <1 Cor. 1:10-13>

5.      Can Christians find a Scripture to authorize them to join with denominations?  Instead we need to teach denominations that there is ONE NT church!  The Bible makes Christians and Christians ONLY!

6.      Mt. 15:13 - good verse to consider.  Are you a member of the church that God has planted?

 

III.  Where do we go from here?

A.   Present the truth in love and in a positive manner.

1.     This is the way to begin!  We need to make a compelling case - from the Scriptures - that the things we have talked about today ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.

2.     Many simply do not know they are in error because they have not been taught the truth.

3.     Eph. 4:13-15 is a good passage to consider!

B.    Rebuke & Expose those who lead & promote false doctrine.

1.     2 Tim. 4:2-3 comes to mind.

2.     Must make them prove via Scripture their practice.

3.     Must not make this our entire focus…

C.    We MUST insist upon soundness being preached and practiced in the Lord church.  This is the only way!

1.     Let us pray about it, and be willing to do our part!

2.     1 Cor. 15:58 - our work is not in vain!

 

IV.  Conclusion.

A.   Let us all seek to be a member of that church which we read about in the NT.

B.    Are you a member of that church?

C.    If not, why not?

D.   I N V I T A T I O N