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THE NEXT CHURCH?" Lynn Parker Tired of the Same Cereal Every Day

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THE NEXT CHURCH? Vol. 8, No. 10 October 1997 l,J.AH„,„IL-HUILmiJ ARE YOU READY FOR "THE NEXT CHURCH?" Lynn Parker Tired of the same cereal every day. It is this vision that clamors for morning? There are plenty of a lowering of the sword, and a shift choices on grocery store "Ilike it; therefore, it in emphasis. In this dream of the shelves. Feeling adventuresome? must be sweet in God's spiritual mavericks, no longer would Disregard those shampoo directions, you be concerned with "trivial mat "Lather, rinse, repeat," andjust soap sight as well" is the ters" like instrumental music in wor your hair one time. You rebel, you! If mistake ofmen, past ship, women teachers and preachers, you don't like your American-made the day and frequency of partaking car, you can always opt for a sporty andpresent. of the Lord's supper, elements of model with a foreign heritage. Tired worship, the purpose or even the of"two songs and a prayer?" Do you necessity of baptism, the distinctive long for religious excitement? I nature of the church, ascertaining mean, do you ever feel like "book, observers of religious error. But as I Bible authority, or a myriad of other chapter, and verse" is too archaic, read the article, I began to have that topics that have been outgrown by too monotonous, entirely too tame? "sinking feeling^ as it occurred to me liberated church-goers. Now, you Eureka! Like the grizzled prospector that "The Next Church" might be have arrived in the land of the who finds the mother-lode, you are prophetic of where many congrega "social church." Here, the emphasis living in an age of the religious tions ofthe Lord's church will be in a squarely shifts from doctrinal dis smorgasbord! decade or so. Many are headed in tinction to self-gratification. "I like The Atlantic Monthly carried that direction, and some are already it; therefore, it must be sweet in an article under the title, "The Next there. God's sight as well" is the mistake of Church," which documents and Leaving the "ancient landmarks" men, past and present. describes the " megachurch" phe (Prov. 22:28) is the express goal of "In those days there was no king nomena sweeping the nation. It is many "change agents" whose vision in Israel: every man did that which marked by large congregations of nobility and heroism includes was right in his own eyes" (Judges (thousands of members in number) leading the poor ol' uneducated 21:25). "For my thoughts are not that are seeking to attract the Christian from the dark confines of your thoughts, neither are your ways "unchurched," particularly those of narrow-minded religious bigotry, my ways, saith the LORD. For as the the 40 years and under group who down the yellow-bricked road of heavens are higher than the earth, so are tired ofthe main stream denomi sweeping change to a bright, new, are my ways higher than your ways, national affiliation. Additionally, shining community where the and my thoughts than your these "megachurches" appeal to the church of Christ is just one of many thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). masses because they: 1) emphasize denominations - buildings swelling Our feature article informs us unity amidst diversity in doctrine, 2) with religiously diverse crowds, that, "Even the most stubbornly tra offer "exciting" worship services that everybody holding hands with his ditional churches, if they have any resemble Broadway productions, 3) denominational neighbor. This liber critical mass at all, are putting chil provide a "ininistry" to every family al movement envisions a place and dren's education, child care, and member (every agenda is answered) time where doctrine is insignificant, even (and especially) the secular. unity at all costs is paramount, and (Continued on page 4) Now, this does not surprise astute perpetual smiles are the order of the "The Next Church"... 2/74 Seek The Old Paths - October 1997 fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). We are not to be partakers with them in their deeds. We are to have NO fel The Bible Versus lowship with them. "No" fellowship does not mean "some" fellowship or "limited" fellowship. And, it is sim ply not enough to have no fellowship Garland M. Robinson with them, this verse also demands that we actively oppose them. Our mission is to "reprove" them. The word reprove means to: convict, Change agents seek to 1984, p. 132). refute, show someone his fault or destroy the Biblical limits error, show something up for what it of fellowship and openly "Brothers and sisters, we is, prove guilty, condemn, to bring to embrace those who are not chil do not have to live in light, to expose, to reprehend sever- dren of God. Notice the following estrangement and isolation ly, chide, admonish. We cannot be comments from some who are des from those who honestly dif quiet when error is involved! To perately seeking to change from fer with us inside or outside refuse to expose error and instead, God's Way. our fellowship. Wedon't have embrace it and extend an open hand to agree with them on every of fellowship to it and those promot "/ agree with the brother point nor do we have to con ing it, is complete apostasy from the who wrote that disagree vince them to agree with us "one faith." Those not faithful to the ments over instruments on every issue. All we have to doctrine of Christ are enemies of should not prevent us from do is look to our left, to those Christ (cf. Phil. 3:18). Shall we sup enjoying a common Lord's who have felt the sting ofour port the enemy of Christ? No, a table. I can commune any rejection, and everywhere we thousands time no! It matters not where ifit is in honor ofour see one who has committed whether the evil doer is an erring Lord and in a matter fitting his or her heart and life to Christian or one who has never with His will. Maybe ifall of the Lordship ofJesus Christ obeyed the gospel, the end result is us who are divided over the we may rejoice that we have the same. instrument communed found a brother or sister. "Now I beseech you, brethren, together more we would see And we may extend to that mark them which cause divisions the importance ofour unity child of God the same invit and offences contrary to the doctrine and work "harder at main ing hand ofgrace and accep which ye have learned; and avoid taining it." (Calvin Warpu- tance which we ourselves them" (Rom. 16:17). This verse com la, A Rejoinder to Letters in have received from the Lord mands that we "mark" those who Response to 'Can We Have Jesus." (Mark Henderson, teach contrary to sound doctrine. Unity With the Christian People Need the Unity-Com The word mark means: to look at, Church'?" One Body, Fall, mitted Church, 1997 ACU observe, contemplate, fix one's eyes 1993,10:4, p.19). Lectures). upon, direct one's attention to, be concerned about, watch out for, be "Do I consider 'our broth Promise Keepers rallys as well careful. The reason we focus our erhood' (non-instrumental as March for Jesus are two denom attention upon these individuals is Churches of Christ) a inational programs which provide a that we may "avoid" them so as to denomination? Yes. ...Well, means for the "Change Agents" to have no fellowship with them in do you embrace denomina- spread their doctrine and openly fel their evil deeds. Such persons tionalism? No. Oh no. I lowship those in denominationalism. "...serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, embrace Jesus. And brothers Faithful Christians cannot engage in but their own belly; and by good and sisters in Jesus scattered either of these activities and meet words and fair speeches deceive the throughout most denomina with God's approval. hearts of the simple" (Rom. 16:18). tions" (Lynn Anderson, The Bible does not allow fellow By no stretch of the imagination "Big, Sick, Denomination: ship with those who are not Chris could we support those who teach Revisited," Wineskins, Vol. tians or even those who have left contrary to sound doctrine and cause 2,No.lO,p.36). their "first love." Notice these pas division in the Lord's body (whether sages: they were members of the Lord's "There are sincere, "Let no man deceive you with church or not). No faithful Christian, knowledgeable, and devout vain words: for because of these preacher, eldership or congregation, Christians scattered among things cometh the wrath ofGod upon can remain silent and lend support the various denominations" the children of disobedience. Be not to those who teach and practice (Rubel Shelly, I Just ye therefore partakers with things contrary to the doctrine of Want to be a Christian, them" (Eph. 5:6-7). "And have no Christ. God counts those who do so October 1997 - Seek The Old Paths 3/75 just as guilty as those who commit Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw unto you, and ye shall be my sons such evil deeds themselves (2 John yourselves from every brother and daughters, saith the Lord 11). that walketh disorderly, and not Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:14-18). The "But I say, that the things which after the tradition which he received words "unequally yoked together" the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to of us" (2 Thess. 3:6). The word are from the same word in the devils, and not to God: and I would "walketh" has to do with one's Greek.
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