Many churches are doing many things today that would have been unthinkable several years ago. Though the gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16), all kinds of gimmicks are invented to draw people. Church kitchens are built with the money from church treasuries. Children are rewarded with candy and cookies for riding the buses to services. Basketball teams, skating parties, fellowship halls, and youth rallies are designed to appeal to the young people. Homes for unwed mothers, homes for the needy, and schools, for which a fee is charged (to teach secular subjects), are invented to thaw people into the fold. Numerous other practices could be mentioned that indicate that many churches have abandoned the practice of doing all things according to the pattern of the New Testament.

Some people are bothered by all these things being done by the church. Often they say that they do not believe that such things are the work of the church and wish that the church would cease such practices. But they do not have the courage to break with the liberal trend. However, some have made the break and are willing to bear whatever reproach and shame evil men heap upon them. To those who have thought of breaking with the accelerating apostasy, we make an appeal to come back to the Bible, and take a stand with those who are fighting for the purity of the church.

To keep you safely in the fold of digression, many tricks are used. The "liberals" would have you believe that the "conservatives" are a bunch of cranks who would let poor little orphans starve and who think that it is sinful for churches to cooperate. Such charges are false and most everyone knows that such is false, but it serves the purpose to deceive. We stand ready to accept any passage or Bible argument that will prove these things to be scriptural. But all the wisdom of men has not found any Bible authority for the above mentioned practices. We urge you to examine what we teach and practice in these areas of differences and find out just what the issues are. Many honest people have done this and discovered that what we are saying is exactly what they believe, because it is what the Bible teaches, and have broken with the liberal forces. They have taken their stand with those who are making a sincere effort to "speak where the Bile speaks," and to "be silent where the Bible is silent." For the following reasons we appeal to you to make the break as many have done

For Conscience Sake

Many say they do not believe many things that churches are doing and yet go right along giving their money and time advancing the very thing that they oppose. The Bible teaches, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). This means that we sin, if we do things, not being fully persuaded in our own mind that the practice is right. Paul was discussing the matter of eating meats, but his teaching has application to unscriptural practices of churches today. Practicing something without the full consent of one's con-science is sinful. So for the sake of your conscience, you should break with those unscriptural practices.

For Sake Of Your Children

Though you say that you do not believe in many things being done by the church where you worship, your children will likely grow up believing that such are scriptural. Little by little the church is drifting into complete apostasy and your children will find themselves involved in this apostasy. For the sake of your children, therefore you should lead the way out of the digressive movement. You have a duty to teach them the truth on every subject and show them the dangers of any departure from the ways of the Lord. Your children will grow up and give their time, money, and influence to the cause of digression, and you will be responsible for it. Their usefulness for truth and righteousness now, and their eternal salvation depends upon you leading the way out of error and back to the Bible.

Duty To Stand For The Right

Christians have an obligation to "contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3). Error succeeds when Christians do nothing When God's people fail to stand against error, there will be no opposition to it, and error will grow like leaven to permeate the whole body. Paul declared, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore ..." (Eph. 6:10-18). The person that does not stand against (anti) error is in violation of this passage.

For Your Own Salvation

One cannot be saved believing and following error. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). One is made free from sin, or saved by truth, not error. A little error mixed with a lot of truth is destructive. Some say, "I don't go along, nor believe a lot of things being done where I worship." But they do go along by giving their time, money, and influence to those things. You should either correct the error where you worship, or make the break and find a place where you can stand for the truth. Your salvation depends upon it.

To have a clear conscience, to save your children, to fulfill your duty, and for the sake of the salvation of your own soul, you should make the break and take your stand with those who are making a sincere effort to please God in all things.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 19 p. 18-19
October 2, 1997