Teachers Without Conviction
Holger W. Neubauer

 
Booker T. Washington, a famous black educator during the time of reconstruction after the Civil War, revealed in his book Up from Slavery that many men in the reconstruction who sought teaching positions could do little more than write their names. Washington recalled a certain man enquiring about a teaching job who had neither the qualifications to teach nor the conviction to ensure that only the truth be taught. When the men of the community questioned the prospective teacher about his views regarding the shape of the earth and how he would teach their children, the man responded by saying that he was prepared to teach that the earth was flat or round, according to the preference of the majority of his patrons (Up From Slavery, p. 81). This man obviously lacked what so many in the Lord’s church lack presently, that being conviction.

The apostle Paul in quoting from Psalm 116:10 affirmed to the Corinthians “we having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak” (II Cor. 4:13). The motivation that the apostle had for speaking the things he did was his belief. The very fact that the things of God were believed was then to serve as the motivation for speaking those things. How different that is from preachers and teachers who choose not to tell their audiences what the Bible teaches on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, the Masonic lodge, the essentiality of the Lord’s church in salvation, nakedness, dancing, denominationalism, instrumental music, false teachers, withdrawal of fellowship, hypocrisy, honesty, and a host of other crucial Bible subjects that ought to be taught regularly. Liberalism is flourishing today because those who should have been speaking out did not. Why didn’t teachers and preachers say what needed to be said? Many did not because of lack of conviction. Conviction is a key characteristic of the faithful child of God and conviction will manifest itself in several ways.

First, conviction will cause teachers and preachers of God’s Word to stand up and speak the truth even in a setting where there is wholesale opposition to the truth. When the apostles were threatened for preaching and teaching the doctrine of Christ in first-century Jerusalem, they responded by saying, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Peter and John were eventually beaten for preaching those things which they believed which demonstrated the depth of their conviction to God and His Word. Courage and conviction are measured not in the venues of agreement but in those where there is opposition to the truth. When we have opportunities to address denominational folk or liberal brethren, conviction demands we speak those things most needed and address the doctrines of error that they hold.

Second, conviction will cause teachers and preachers to speak the truth even while risking criticism of the manner in which the truth is spoken. When Paul confronted Peter to the face at Antioch for his hypocrisy, some no doubt wished Paul would have taken Peter aside privately rather than excoriating him in a public way (Gal. 2:11-14). However, true conviction will deal with public sins in a public way (I Tim. 5:20). This soft spirit was present at the Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship in March of 2000 when Ben F. Vick, Jr. publicly exposed Billy Smith of Freed-Hardeman University for fellowshipping false teachers. Many were the voices that criticized Vick’s “manner” suggesting he should have said what he said privately. These same brethren would not have appreciated Paul’s courage nor his conviction.

Finally, conviction will cause teachers and preachers to preach the same thing to any audience. The apostle Paul said, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ as I teach every where in every church” (I Cor. 4:17). What Paul preached in Jerusalem he also preached in Antioch. What the apostle taught in Philippi he also taught at Ephesus. Clearly Paul did not have the attitude of brethren who preach on liberalism in conservative lectureships and then say “I think I agree with the conservatives, I just don’t know any I want to spend any time with” at a lectureship known to use liberal brethren. Conviction will motivate teachers and preachers to be Christ-like as they teach and preach only Christ without adding to His Word or taking away from it.

Editorial

America has just gone through one of the most trying times in her history. The killing of hundreds of innocent people plus the personal injury of hundreds of innocent people is almost beyond one’s imagination. Think of all the hearts that ache and are broken over the wicked, inhumane acts of those terrorists. This has changed the lives of many thousands forever who are directly associated with those who perished and those who are wounded. Thank God for our government’s swift activity to try and find out all those connected with this horrible crime against humanity. They are not only seeking those who were directly involved but those who were remotely involved. The government officials tell us that they are going to prosecute to the utmost anyone that had a hand in this underhanded activity.

What will happen if our government officials find out that someone still alive helped the perpetrator secure a car? What will happen if our government officials find out that someone knowingly and intentionally shielded them while in this country making their plans to bring about these murderous acts?
What will happen if our government officials find out that some still alive in this nation helped them get into this country to do their evil work? What do you suppose will happen if our government officials find out that someone helped them secure and cover up their telephone service? What will happen if our government finds out that some still alive helped the perpetrators with food and lodging while preparing for their day of horror? What will happen if our government officials find out that fifty or one hundred knew of their plans many days ahead of the event? What will happen if our law enforcement agents find out that anyone helped in the smallest way to pull this event off? We all know the answer to these and similar questions. We know that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent though they are remotely involved in this act of terror. All of us agree that they should be.

Now let us turn to a more important thing than what has taken place in New York City. The soul of man never dies (Gen. 2:7). It is everlasting (Matt. 25:46). Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). God gave His only Son to save the world (John 3:15-16). Jesus laid down His life for all of us (Gal. 2:20). God has done everything within His eternal existence and power to deliver us safely to heaven. But many false teachers have entered the world, and they are busy and have been busy sabotaging the truth (I John 4:1). These false teachers have millions under their control. They are leading millions of others to eternal fire because their followers are under their control and support them in their sabotaging work. Would any true child of God be involved with these truth-sabotaging people knowingly and intentionally? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? These false teachers in religion are not bringing literal buildings down upon physical, living bodies, but they are bringing spiritual buildings down on hell fire (Matt. 7:21-28). When men die in their spiritual lost condition because of those religious saboteurs, they will burn forever and ever in the flame of hell (Rev. 14:11). There is no way to rescue them after they die (John 8:21, 24). This is why God hates every false way (Ps. 119:104). How can we think that any truth lover could defend a false teacher and false doctrine? I do not want any part of it, not one jot or tittle.

Let us now turn to the church of Christ. We have those among us today that are religious saboteurs. They have taken over churches throughout the land with their false teaching and false doctrine. Many have helped them by aiding and abetting. Some have done this willingly and intentionally. They know what they teach and yet they uphold and support them in their false ways. Some have helped false teachers and false doctrine without knowing it. If we support false doctrine and false teachers with knowledge of what is being done or if we do not know the truth, it is still a very serious thing. This is why we should “prove all things” (I Thess. 5:21). This is why we must study to know what pleases God (II Tim. 2:15). We must know what God authorizes in religion (Col. 3:17).

The greatest and most serious problem we face today in the churches of Christ is that of Christian fellowship. Fellowship is a salvation issue (I John 1:7). Right fellowship is just as important to our salvation as baptism for the remission of sins (II John 9-11). We must exclude those that God has excluded from our fellowship just as we must include those that God has included in our fellowship. Religious saboteurs are all about us when it comes to fellowship among the brethren. Brethren will fellowship with false teachers as well as with those who have fellowshipped false teachers without any problem or one word of rebuke to those in the wrong. The Bible teaches that we are not to have fellowship with false teachers nor those who have fellowshipped false teachers (II John 9-11; Eph. 5:11; Rom 16:17-18). Those who participate with false teachers are just as guilty as the false teachers themselves. They are like those who helped the men in crashing the planes killing hundreds of innocent people. The people doing the greatest damage to the churches of Christ today are not men like Rubel Shelly. The people doing the greatest damage to the churches of Christ today are those who fellowship false teachers and those who fellowship those who fellowship false teachers with no word of reproof, rebuke, or marking (Rom. 16:17-18). They aid and abet just as those did in assisting the plane crashers into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. What will be the carnage of those who fellowship those whom God forbids? Eternal damnation, unless they repent.

One of the commercial airliners taken over by hijackers crashed in Pennsylvania. It did so because two or three passengers decided to try and overcome the enemy. We know this by a phone call from one of the well-meaning men that called his mother and told of his and his friends’ intent. People call him and his friends heroes, and they truly are. They were trying to help and did perhaps save many lives. They may have saved the White House. They lost their lives and several others in their courageous effort.

A few of us have been criticized severely for trying to do something about the present apostasy in the church of Christ. They have called us extremists, troublemakers, and the like. But we have been trying to help save the church of Christ from eternal ruin. We are no more troublemakers in doing this than those two or three men were in trying to overcome those hijackers. Who would call them extremists or troublemakers? They were trying to be helpful and so are we. Let it be understood plainly and clearly that we do not intend to stop no matter the cost. We intend to stand for the Bible truth no matter who it may involve. We do not intend to play politics or show favoritism. Let the brotherhood know that we are here and do not intend to fade away in obscurity. May the Lord help us in our endeavors for His cause.--Malcolm L. Hill

Unconverted Members
David Hill

As a kid I remember another child referring to a family that we attended worship with as “one-day churchers.” Think about it. That is pretty descriptive of some of the folks that sit next to you and to me on the pew each Sunday. I also remember a few years back when an eldership asked members to fill out and sign a pledge card for an idea of their giving plans for the year. When those cards were reviewed and some members were questioned by the elders, quite a stir ensued. Sometimes preachers preach on subjects like modest apparel, social drinking, improper movies, dancing, the Bible doctrine of marriage, divorce, and remarriage and related subjects, and trouble follows. What ties all of the above together? I suggest that unconverted members are the “one-day churchers,” those who don’t want their giving examined, and those that cause trouble over the clear teaching of Bible morality.

To convert is “to change, to turn from one belief to another” according to Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary, pg. 74. So the inverse of convert would be non-convert or unconverted which would be unchanged. One may be converted to many things. I was converted to eating squash a number of years ago after being a non-convert most of my childhood. One may be converted from one political party to another. But what is under consideration here is conversion to Christ. Paul said that to be converted was to be transformed by the renewing of one’s mind (Rom. 12: 1-2). In Romans 6 he, with inspired pen, pointed out that we were to die to sin. Dead to the world, we are no longer a part of the sinful activities of the world around us. That’s true conversion. The New Testament records several exhortations to be converted (Matt. 18:3; Mark 4:12; Luke 22:32; John 12:40; Acts 3:19; Acts 28:27).

Next, a good question to ask about conversion is: “Changed from what to what?” Paul listed a number of works of unrighteousness in I Corinthians 6:9-10 and then said, “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but ye are sanctified, justified. . .” They were changed from idolators, adulterers, and even homosexuals to Christians, pure and justified before God. That is conversion. A few years ago I visited with an individual that worked with a man who had just been baptized into Christ. The individual could not get over the change he had seen in the man’s life, and I was amazed at the changes that had been observed. Have your friends and co-workers noticed a change in you? Are you known to be a Christian, and could your friends and co-workers identify where you worship? That’s the question: “Changed from what to what?”

Finally, unconverted members are not always easy to see. A half-baked Christian still looks done on top. But, how deep is his or her religion? Many problems are started in the Lord’s church not over doctrinal issues but over petty matters of opinion. Shallow things like jealousy, maybe of a godly elder’s power and influence in the congregation, start problems. Those who are actively trying to turn the church of Christ into a denomination can hardly be referred to as fine folks or good Christians though sometimes people make such comments about unconverted members. Members who want to do what they want when they want to do it regardless of the cost or the instruction of God on the subject are unconverted. They have not been changed. They may wear the name, but they are still acting on their selfish will and are guilty of sin (James 2:10).

When was the last time you did something in the Lord’s Kingdom that cut into your personal time or went against what you really like to do? Are you converted? Will you stand against the division and false doctrine being spread in the church of the Lord today by truly putting your name on the line? If you and I are truly converted to Christ we will. He gave up heaven and came to earth willing to be mocked, beaten, and hanged on a cross in our stead to do the Father’s work. Unconverted members can cause great damage and do much harm to the Lord’s church. Let’s be truly converted, not hard of hearing with our eyes closed (Matt. 13:15).

Unbiblical Elderships
Glenn B. Ramsey

An eldership is made up of the elders of one local con-gregation. In Acts 20:17, the Bible says, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” In this passage Paul has requested a meeting with the elders (eldership) of the church at Ephesus. The instructions to these men who made up the eldership at Ephesus were:


In a similar fashion the Holy Spirit directed Peter to write:


The obligations of elders (those scripturally qualified and appointed: see I Timothy 3 and Titus 1) are properly set out in the above passages. The obligations of Christians to these properly (scripturally) appointed men are further established in the Scriptures.


An eldership should be scriptural. This is true when each man who makes up this body is qualified according to the Scriptures and when the eldership acts according to Bible instructions to perform its duty.

An eldership is unbiblical if one or more of the men in that eldership do not meet the qualifications set out in the Scriptures. An eldership is unbiblical or unscriptural if it does not fulfill the duties set out in Scripture.

In addition to the special qualifications for men who serve as elders, each elder should also meet every qualification that God requires of every Christian man! If there are good and godly men in a church, among these men will be the elders! Anything else is an affront to God’s divine directive, the Bible!

We recognize that the qualifications and duties of elders are to be met and performed by men who are not – and never will be – in this life, perfect men. Wisdom dictates that we view the qualifications and duties set out in the Scriptures as requirements that must be pursued with the greatest intensity and energy of all concerned. While perfection in the form of sinlessness will not be achieved by mere men, the pursuit of perfection must be the goal of all Christians, especially of elders!

According to Hebrews 13:17, elders “must give an account” for the way they “watch for your souls.” This means they must first “take heed” unto themselves. Second, they must make every effort to guard the flock (the church over which they rule as elders) and to feed this flock with God’s Word. From these passages this is obviously the work of an eldership.

If men in an eldership are properly qualified to lead and do not lead they are an unscriptural eldership. Please consider the following possible situations:

1. An eldership brings in a preacher to preach for the congregation they oversee. This preacher holds positions of false doctrine – but he promises not to teach any of it at that time. Is this eldership acting scripturally?
2. An eldership brings a preacher in to teach or preach in a lecture series. This preacher has participated with known false teachers (without rebuking them for their false positions). Is this eldership acting scripturally?
3. An eldership listens to and accepts (without proper confirmation) accusations (which amounts to gossip) against a preacher and labels him as being extreme, radical, or liberal. Is this eldership acting scriptually?
4. An eldership allows, in the fellowship of the church they oversee, couples whom they know are living in adultery, people who drink socially or otherwise, people who gamble, etc. Are these elders acting in a scriptural manner?
5. An eldership allows men to serve in public worship who are not even faithful in attending the scheduled services of the church. Are these elders acting in a scriptural manner?
6. An eldership requests that their preacher not preach on certain subjects or call names of false teachers because they fear reprisals from some of the more influential or wealthy of the church. Are these elders serving God in a scriptural manner?
7. An eldership allows the announcement of meetings, lectures, etc., of congregations that are known to be liberal in their practices. Is this eldership acting in a responsible scriptural manner?
8. An eldership allows their preacher to fellowship with known false teachers. Is this a scriptural eldership?
9. An eldership accepts into the fellowship of the church, over which they rule, men or women who have been baptized into denominational churches without requiring obedience to the command to be baptized in a proper manner. Are these elders acting in a biblical way?
10. An eldership does not consistently lead the congregation in withdrawing fellowship from those who “walk disorderly” (II Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17). Is this a biblical eldership?
11. An eldership does not recognize its obligation to honor the action of sister congregations who have withdrawn from certain individuals. It just “takes them in” without seeing that they make themselves right with their former congregation. Is this a scriptural practice for an eldership?
    

To these eleven scenarios might be added many more. The obvious answer to these inquiries shows that anyone with a minimum grasp of scriptural truth can determine if an eldership is scriptural or unscriptural – biblical or unbiblical.

The greatest responsibility a man may assume is to lead the church of God. With this responsibility comes the accountability that God will ultimately require of elderships and individuals who make up them. May God bless all men who serve as elders to be vigilant and faithful in doing the things God requires of them. Only then will the Kingdom of God be what God wants it to be. Only then will the flock be kept properly.

Preachers Going After Popularity
Ronald D. Gilbert

The story is told of a preacher who was known as a man who wanted to get along with all. He was asked what he believed on the eternal nature of hell. The preacher said, “I don’t know.” Then upon further pressure to the question the preacher replied, “I have friends on both sides of the issue and I always stand with my friends.” It is amazing to see what length some will go in order to please men. Jesus encountered dishonest people who valued what others thought of them above the truth. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

The Apostle Paul knew the value of pleasing God.


We have many great examples of preachers in God’s Word who were true to God, being more concerned with pleasing God than men. Jesus is our perfect example. John the baptizer died in order to please God. Some of our politicians, before taking a stand on any issue want to poll the people to see what is popular and then take the popular stand. We have preachers in the Lord’s church today doing the same thing. Thirty years ago it was popular to be conservative and so most preachers were. However, today being conservative and standing for the truth leads to being called a “radical” or an “extremist.” In discussing the fellowship issue and going over passages like Romans 16:17, Ephesians 5:11, and II John 9-11, I have had gospel preachers to say, “If we follow what you are saying who is left to fellowship?” Notice what such a person is saying. They are saying, “I like being in fellowship with most of the brethren. I am also planning to stay with the majority of brethren.” The church was filled with preachers like this when the church split over instrumental music and the missionary society in 1906. Before this split there were about 8,740 preachers. After the split the church of Christ had about 2,100 preachers and the Christian Church had about 6,640 preachers. Most of these men stood with popularity, not with truth. Brethren, God expects us to stand for truth even if we stand alone. Many Bible characters stood as a single voice speaking forth the words of truth. Some of these great men of God who stood alone had brethren who would not speak the truth with them but spoke out against them. We have some preachers like this today. They refuse to speak out against the false teachers among us but choose to speak out against faithful brethren who are doing what the Bible teaches and speaking out against false brethren.

May God give us all the strength and courage to do His will. Help us, Lord, to love truth above popularity. “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:127-128).

Our Colleges and Universities
Kerry Duke

The world of universities connected with churches of Christ is often like the world of politicians. Just as politicians have many patrons and constituents to please, these schools are under great pressure to sacrifice truth and principle for popularity and funds. Just as politicians know how to speak to please both sides in a controversy, administrators in many universities have learned how to remain friends with liberals and conservatives in the spiritual realm. And it is for this reason that their words are so deceptive. One must be wary of what they claim because their actions betray their words.

Faulkner University released a statement entitled “Here We Stand” in 2001. This statement pledges commitment to basic teachings such as Bible authority, the necessity of baptism, the undenominational nature of the Lord’s church, and a “firm commitment to biblical morality.” The statement itself sounds good. But when we compare what Faulkner does to what it claims, these words became nothing but air. The 1999 Faulkner Lectureship included Jack P. Lewis, who denies that elders have authority, and Jim McGuiggan, who speaks on denominational programs as well as at Pepperdine. Faulkner claims to hold a “firm commitment to biblical morality.” Yet the 2001 Faulkner lectures included James Maxwell, who just months before in public debate affirmed: “The Holy Scriptures teach that non-Christians in an adulterous marriage can repent and be baptized and continue in the marriage, being sanctified and justified” (Debate with Holger Neubauer in Monroeville, Alabama, August 25-26, 2000). And these are by no means the only examples of such inconsistency. Yet a number of brethren, some naive and some unaware, take the “Here We Stand” statement seriously.

The same is true of other universities. Steve Flatt, President of David Lipscomb, continues to praise Lipscomb’s loyalty to its beginning purpose, yet he allows some of the most radical people to speak and teach there, and he participates in other liberal venues himself. David Burks, President of Harding University, released a doctrinal statement similar to Faulkner’s which was praised by some brethren. But Don McLaughlin is one of many speakers on the 2001 Harding lectures that have demonstrated little respect for the Bible and who intend to reform the church of Christ. To hear these administrators talk, you would think they are careful and concerned about what is taught and who is teaching on their campuses. And if you ask them general questions about where they stand, they will give you enough information to make you think they are solid and true. But you must remember the type of person you are engaging. These leaders are often no different than politicians. In fact, that is what they are – politicians in the church. They say and do not. Their talk is cheap.

This is why the brotherhood needs to be alerted to these charades. These universities’ use of false teachers is not an isolated, ignorant mistake. It is an intentional aim to reform the church of Christ to appeal to the masses and to maintain financial support. Of course, those who expose this hypocrisy will be ridiculed and labeled extremists and troublemakers by officials in these schools. And some members of the church will refuse to believe that things could be so bad in the church – unless someone trained or influenced by one of these schools places membership, or, even worse, is hired to preach at the congregation they attend and begins to trouble the church there. Remember that the influence of these schools is broad and lasting. Teachers in them train preachers, youth ministers, educational directors, counselors, missionaries, and Bible class teachers. Young, unsuspecting, trusting minds often come to these professors pure but are corrupted and then released on the brotherhood to infect the church with unbiblical ideas. These universities significantly shape the attitude of the church by the books and articles they write and through the seminars and lectureships they hold. Their liberal influence is felt not only in this country but also throughout the world. For example, on a recent trip to Malaysia I discovered the educational roots of liberal teaching that divided churches of Christ there: Abilene Christian University.

The only hope is for brethren to become discerning and informed instead of naive and unaware. Churches must, of course, be first concerned about their own congregation. But they should stay sufficiently informed to keep themselves from being harmed by the teaching and influence of wayward schools. And they should not be intimidated by false teachers with smooth speech and a lot of education. Peter and John didn’t have much formal education, but they were bold because they had the Truth (Acts 4:13). And just as one does not need a lot of formal education to see that a politician is double-tongued, one can see the difference between the claims and the deeds of universities with a fair amount of plain common sense.

Will You Also Go Away
Ben Franklin

No matter how many go the wrong way, nor how popular they are, nor how much money they have, the Lord is able to bring them to judgment, and He will most certainly do it. When the people went away from the temple and abandoned Him, and only a few disciples remained with him, and he inquired of them: “Will you also go away?” The prospect looked dim, but the Lord did not change His course. When he expired on the cross the enemies exulted and triumphed; but their triumph did not last long. “He was quickened by the Spirit.” God raised him up. “He was justified by the Spirit.” The armies in heaven were with him. The upper world was in motion. God vindicated him, as he did all who will listen to Him. When they burned Tyndale at the stake they thought they had put him down; but, while they names of his persecutors have, with few exceptions, gone into oblivion, the name of Tyndale is held in esteem by all good men. The name of Luther will live to the end of time, while the time-servers who opposed him are rapidly sinking into forgetfulness. The man that leads the people to God, to the Lord Jesus, by the gospel, and maintains the will of God, will abide forever; while the man that tries to catch the griddy throng with a little show of some human devices, and who may attract their attention for a time, will pass away and be forgotten forever.

We are for progress in the true sense in every department, but not for the progress backward. We are for the progress in the church that goes forward and converts sinners, and builds up churches; that infuse piety, devotion to God and to the right way of the Lord; but not for the progress that is nearly all money, and almost no work. We are for the progress that goes forward and not backward.