By Trinity Lane Church of Christ
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Vol. 5, No. b August1994 Woodmont Hills and Rubel Shelly Marked and Withdrawn From By Trinity Lane Church of Christ The letter printed below was On April 10, 1994, the Wood we have advanced the cause of mailed out to congregations in and mont Hills Church of Christ had Satan. around Nashville by the Trinity a joint worship service with six Consequently, we cannot rec Lane Church of Christ: 1079 Trinity denominational groups: Wood ognize Woodmont Hills Church of Lane, Nashville, TN 37216, Ph: mont Christian Church, Wood Christ as a faithful congregation (615) 228-0206. I wish to hold up mont Baptist, Calvary United and we will not support or their hands and brethren every Methodist, Covenant Presbyter endorse their efforts to advance where need to let them know they ian, Saint Paul Southern this agenda. It must be noted appreciate their efforts. Give them Methodist and Trinity Presbyter that Woodmont Hills mailed out a call or drop them a note - gmr ian. At the worship service, the Jubilee newsletter for 1994. Rubel Shelly in his sermon, At Trinity Lane, we feel that sup embraced the entire group as porting the Jubilee either mone June 5, 1994 Christians and said that all of tarily, encouraging one's mem them should come together as bers to attend, or speaking at a Dear Brethren: the army ofGod. Rubel then took lecture, is ultimately an endorse the position that what makes us ment of the actions of Woodmont After much prayer and Christians and enables us to Hills. thought, the elders and ministers have fellowship is faith in the Ifthis is not the case, then we at the Trinity Lane Church of resurrection. would like to know how congre Christ have determined that it is I believe the telling sign of gations can support Jubilee with necessary to identify Woodmont the agenda of Rubel Shelly and Woodmont Hills as sponsors and Hills Church of Christ as having the Woodmont Hills Church of at the same time oppose their departed from the faith. There Christ is seen in his statement: actions? John wrote: "If anyone have been many disturbing "The devil cannot like what's comes to you and does not bring trends developing over the years happening tonight." In essence, this doctrine, do not receive him in our brotherhood and many Rubel was saying that when the into your house nor greet him; for churches of Christ have been churches of Christ object to he who greets him shares in his "quietly" disturbed. There are denominationalism, infant bap evil deeds" (II John 10-11). times, however, when instead of tism, instrumental music, neglect It should also be noted that being quiet, we need to be bold of the Lord's Supper, human many of the listed speakers for and make a strong stand for the creeds, doctrine ofsalvation with Jubilee this year have also been truth. We feel that the time has out baptism etc., and thereby come for such a stand in refuse to fellowship those (Continued on page 4) Nashville. involved in these practices, then TRINITY LANE WITHDRAWS Seek The Old Paths - August 1994 pleased with him? Why then do we think we can be pleasing before the Lord if we only do half what he tells us to do? "Mark Them EXAMPLES OF MARKING Which Cause Division" Is it the responsibility of the faithful of God to actually mark Ed Casteel those who are teaching error? I have already mentioned Hymenaeus and Philetus that Paul was certainly The true Lord's prayer, as found raise the question what are we, the marking in II Timothy 2:17. Was in John 17, was for the church church of the Lord, to do concerning Paul not marking Alexander the cop to be united. "Neitherpray I for those who are teaching false and persmith who did him much evil (II these alone, hut for them also which damnable doctrines. Does the Bible Tim 2:14)? Was Paul not marking shall believe on me through their say anything concerning what the the man who was living with his word; That they all may be one; as faithful are to do? Indeed it does. father's wife (I Cor. 5:ltD? Was Paul thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, not telling the church to mark the that they also may be one in us: that MARKTHEM one or ones that were walking disor the world may believe that thou hast derly and not after the tradition sent me. And the glory which thou The word "mark" says we are to which they had received (II Thess. gavest me I have given them; that keep our eyes open and be on the 3:6)? Was Paul not marking the they may be one, even as we are one: lookout for those who are trying to Juidizing teachers who were teach I in them, and thou in me, that they divide the body of Christ, and who ing that the Gentiles must be cir may be made perfect in one; and that are enticing other brethren into sin cumcised and keep the law to be the world may know that thou hast ning by placing temptation to do saved (study the book of Galatians)? sent me, and hast loved them, as wrong in their way. Roy H. Lanier, Was John, the apostle of love, not thou hast loved me" (John 17:20-23). Sr. wrote in the Gospel Advocate marking the anti-Christ teachers Unity can only be maintained Annual Lesson Commentary, "it is who taught Christ did not come in when we follow the injunction of the like one is in a tower watching the the flesh (I John 4:2,3)? Was not apostle Paul as found in I Corinthi movement ofan enemy. His constant John marking, "that woman ans 1:10. "Now I beseech you, watching is "marking" the enemy, Jezebel, which calleth herself a brethren, by the name of our Lord according to the use of the word" prophetess, to teach and to seduce my Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the (12/24/50). While the word mark servants to commit fornication, and same thing, and that there be no does not of necessity include the idea to eat things sacrificed unto idols" divisions among you; but that ye be of publishing the false teacher, the (Rev. 2:20)? perfectly joined together in the same interest which we have for the puri My brethren, to mark a false mind and in the same judgment." ty of the church will cause the faith teacher is not only good for the well We will speak the same thing only ful to do so. being ofthe church, but we also have when we speak as of the oracles of Paul knew the words of the command ofthe Lord to do so, as God (I Peter 4:11). We will speak the Hymenaeus and Philetus doth eat well as examples where it was done same things only when we, like like a canker (II Tim. 2:17), so he in the scripture. Paul, speak the whole counsel of God marked them and exposed them, (Acts 20:27). that others might not follow in their STANDARD TO USE Division existed in the day of way. When one or more are found to Paul, and exists as well today be teaching doctrine contrary to that The standard to use to deter because people are failing to speak which has been received of the Lord, mine who is to be marked are all the same thing. One says baptism is it is the duty of him who first learns those who are causing division and essential to salvation, another says it to warn others lest they should occasions of stumbling contrary to it is not. One says instrumental entice others to follow his pernicious the doctrine of the apostles. When music is acceptable in worship, ways (II Peter 2:2). We cannot Paul wrote the church at Thessaloni- another says it is not. One says ignore error and hope the false cia he observed some who were not orphan children may bo helped from teachers will soon be quiet. Paul working at all. Of these individuals the church treasurer, another says says we must not only refuse to have Paul says, "Now we command you, they may not. One says we can fel fellowship with him, but we also are brethren, in the name of our Lord lowship the denominations, another to "reprove" him (Eph. 5:11). If we Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw your says we may not. On and on we just cease to have fellowship with selves from every brother that could go. If we all would simply him, and never rebuke him, we have walketh disorderly, and not after the speak the same thing, and I believe only fulfilled half of what the Lord tradition which he received of us" (II we can do just that, then we would commanded us. If Naaman had Thess. 3:6). Further in the text we have perfect harmony and unity. dipped half the times the Lord told read, "if any man obey not our word The thrust of our study is to him to dip, would the Lord be by this epistle, note that man August 1994 - Seek The Old Paths (emphasis mine, E.C.), and have no teachers to teach no other doctrine (I standard to use to determine if one company with him, that he may Tim. 1:3,4). We are only to preach is preaching the truth or not.