For Israel the alarm of war had sounded and shortly Assyria would swoop down "as an eagle against the house of the Lord." God had raised up Josea to thunder the sure judgment of God against Israel "because they have transgressed and made princes with which God had nothing to do; they made idols with their silver and gold, but God would destroy them. The prophet said, "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it had no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up" (Hos. 8:7). Yes, Israel had sown the wind and God would see to it that she reaped the whirlwind! Paul says one reaps what one sows (Gal. 6:7).

Churches of Christ today can "sow the wind" just as ancient Israel did. They not only can, many of them are up to their necks doing it now. Announcing a bag of wind recently, a church of Christ in N.C. stated that church "has something good going on with Junior Worship. But now we have something happening on Feb. 4th that will turn good into great! Two, (2), Yes two junior worships!

In order to meet the needs of the age group 8-10, a second junior worship will be offered." This reminds one of the early beginnings of the Christian Church and its "Junior Church and worship." These brethren assume they know what the needs are of these 8-10 year old children and have set their sails on a course which will inevitably cause them to reap the whirlwind. They have no Bible authority for this action; but when churches leave God this much in conviction, what do they care whether the Bible teaches the practice or not. The wheels of divine judgment may grind slowly, but brethren, they do grind!

The Joy Bus Ministry, the Puppet Programs, and all the other gimmicks employed by liberal churches lead to Junior churches and Junior worship. There is no way to impede liberalisms progress by shouting from the housetops for Bible authorizing their new actions much less stop it. Why cannot the church today be just like the church of Christ was in the first century? If that early church knew the need to continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42), why can't the church today know the same need? Let it be as God made it.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 32, p. 521
August 16, 1979