Truth Magazine

By Bobby L. Graham

It is a matter of record that there has been considerable drifting from the paths of New Testament teaching regarding how one becomes a Christian, the identity of the Lord’s church, the composition of the body of Christ, the scriptural functioning of a local church, acceptable practice in the area of marriage- divorce-remarriage, and even other matters. A recent advertisement in the Athens News Courier documented the participation of two congregations in a county youth rally, as it listed them as “church sponsors” with several denominational congregations. Especially telling was the claim that sponsors were interested in sowing the seed of Jesus Christ and encouraging unity among all who trust in Jesus.

Let it be remembered that Jesus promoted and prayed for that unity, but he based it on the word that the apostles would later teach (John 17:20). Unity sought on any other basis than the complete teaching of the Lord, including what his apostles did for him, is not the unity for which he prayed. Unity promoted among people who do not even subscribe to New Testament teaching on the essentiality of baptism is not the unity that he desired. Unity promoted among people who use instruments of music in worship, which lack the authorization of Christ, can never be the unity desired by Christ. Unity involving an amalgamation of religious bodies with their differing creeds and practice, though masked by the facade of all “trusting in Jesus,” is not what Jesus desired. The names, creeds, and practices of denominationalism all subvert the unity desired by Jesus. Only by laying them all aside can a proper approach to scriptural unity be made.

Our appeal in this brief article is to those truly trusting Jesus, trusting him enough to believe all that he authored and to do and be all that he required. We appeal to you to separate yourself from any group that approves such an approach to unity so you might stand with Christ and his people aloof from sectarian creeds and practices. We appeal to you to appreciate and respect the authority of Jesus Christ, who has the preeminence in all things (Col. 1:18). You have not so learned Christ, and we appeal to you to remember the teaching of the New Testament concerning the faith and practice of Jesus Christ. We appeal to you to throw off the yoke of soft teaching and compromised practice that you might occupy the firm ground of the faith once delivered to the saints.

It has been said that if the South is the Bible belt, Lime- stone County is the buckle. There may be some truth in that, but the buckle is becoming a bit tarnished. There are more than fifty churches of Christ in this county. Some of them have attendance from three to four hundred people. The vast majority of these churches are conservative — opposed to sponsoring churches, institutionalism, and the social gospel. For that we are thankful!

It may be that not enough preaching has been done in the county in recent years concerning the unique position of the church, its distinctive plea, and opposition to denominationalism. This lack of under- standing and conviction has produced some members who are dissatisfied with the church and want to change it. A number (mostly younger people), unable to get their way, left two congregations (along with a few from others) and started what is known as “Valley Church” and the one meeting on Seven Mile Post Road west of Athens. A few of those misguided members went into the few churches known to be liberal or into denominations. They seem to be under the influence of the Nashville Jubilee, Rubel Shelly,

Max Lucado, Mike Cope, Lynn Anderson, Randy Mayeux, Edward Fudge, and others.

These brethren have followed the four steps outlined by Dave Miller in his book Piloting the Strait:

There was a time among churches of Christ when there was a spoken understanding that members of denominations were lost since they were not members of the church described in the New Testament. With time, we moved into a period of unspoken understanding. Everyone knew what shape denominations were in; it was understood. But we shied away from verbalizing it, “lest we offend.” Tragically, the generation that grew up with such silence ushered in a new period that entailed unspoken misunderstanding. They had not been taught (Deut. 6:7). They mistook the silence of their parents for indifference and approval.

We are now reaping the consequences of these failings. We have now moved into a period of outright spoken misunderstanding. Brethren are openly declaring their conviction that the church of Christ is simply one denomination among many and those who are in denominations are saved Christians. They maintain that teachings like “the sinfulness of instrumental music” and “baptism unto remission of sins” are trivial in comparison with the need to “fellowship” and “unite” with those in the denominations (286-287).

That describes the local situation completely! Some brethren have followed this pattern of apostasy.

In July of 1998, Edward Fudge returned to his native county for a series of lessons at the SMPR church. He returned to Houston and placed a message on the Internet in which he said:

What a feast of fellowship we enjoyed in Athens on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at the Seven Mile Post Road church (a church of Christ) — in ministry from God’s Word, roof-ringing congregational worship and praise, and testimonies to God’s kindness and love! We ended the feast Sunday noon with a table laden with food for our bodies. We are holistic beings; God provides for the entire person.

Shepherded by my life-long buddy Joe Curtis, and our brother Dwight Ridinger, the 7MPR Church fulfills Isaiah’s messianic vision of a time when “the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before the nations” (Isa. 61:11). God has wonderously saved some from drug addiction, delivered others from alcohol, healed others who were sick, mended troubled families, and transported many from the bondage of legalism and the ceaseless task of joyless religion to the freedom of a personal relationship with the living Lord.”

It was a treat to welcome visiting believers from Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, as well as from many churches of Christ.

Pentecostals would make the same claims about those who were “wonderously saved.” His reference to the “bondage of legalism” was directed toward relatives and fellow-Christians among whom he was reared — the faithful churches of Christ. He is referring to those of us who believe in giving book, chapter and verse for what we believe and practice. He and his “buddies” argue that we are not under law today. He implied — and he believes — that those “visiting believers” from denominations were saved believers. And of course they had that “feast” on Sunday. Edward can remember when there was not a kitchen or banquet room in churches of Christ in Limestone County. It’s another mark of apostasy. Would he say that the church is to provide every need of “the entire person”? Every need, Ed?

On May 8, 1999, a much-publicized musical show known as “Soul Stock 99” was held at Beasley Field at Athens State University. It was promoted by some sectarian organization known as “Lightly Salted Ministries” — whatever that means. They featured two rock groups and a football player. Their aim was “to plant the seed of Jesus Christ in the hearts of our youth and to promote a spirit of unity among all who put their trust in Him.” The sponsoring churches include Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians — and the Valley and SMPR churches. This has really opened some eyes among Christians in the county. Co-sponsors were the local newspaper and Harvest Field Bookstore.

Scott Tidwell, a Baptist, of Harvest Field Store, writes a weekly column in the local newspaper. Following the gospel/rock show, he wrote a report of what happened. We quote from him:

What a great event! There was a tremendous crowd, good music, great Christian witness and testimony, fun, friends and food — and most importantly, souls were saved at Beasley Field last Saturday night.

Last Saturday night in Athens, Alabama, thousands upon thousands of people gathered and praised God, heard about God’s life-changing love, were encouraged, to practice a life of purity, and caused a celebration in heaven as sinners accepted Jesus as their personal Savior (The News-Courier, May 14, 1999).

In a letter to Joe Curtis and Dwight Ridinger dated May 18, 1999, I gave the above quotes and asked:

“Since the Seven Mile Post Road Church of Christ was listed as one of the sponsors and promoters of the show, do you endorse Tidwell’s statements that some people were saved at Beasley Field? If not, will you seek to correct his false and misleading statements?”

I have not received a reply from either preacher.

If they do not agree with Tidwell, they should realize the dangers of their ungodly compromise with sectarians, repent, and seek forgiveness from God and offended brethren.

If they do agree with Tidwell, then they do not believe the truth! They believe in salvation by faith only and with- out baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). In other words, they endorse the kind of “conversions” as seen in the Billy Graham services.

If they refuse to answer (and it seems so), then they disobey a scriptural command (1 Pet. 3:15).

In the dedication service for their new building, the Valley church used denominational preachers as guest speakers. Now contrast that with the attitude of the early Christians as described by J.L. Hurlbut, in The Story of the Christian Church:

Heathenism was hospitable to new forms and objects of worship, while Christian was exclusive. Where gods were already counted by the hundreds, even by the thousands, one more god would make no difference. One emperor wished to place a statue of Christ in the Pantheon, a build- ing in Rome, still standing, where all the important gods were worshiped. But the Christians rejected the offer with scorn. They would not have their Christ recognized merely as one of many deities (50).

The apostle Paul instructed the Christians at Ephesus to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).

This paper is read across the nation. Many of you do not live in Limestone County, Alabama. These dangers and departures may not yet affect you, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. This compromising, stand for nothing, accept everybody and any religious practice is spreading, and it will continue. We must oppose it with all means available and defend the one true church built by the Lord and to which he adds all the saved who have obeyed him as we read in Acts chapter two!

We close with another quotation from Dave Miller. He concludes his chapter on “Embracing Denominationalism” with this wonderful statement:

How tragic, that at the very time when our nation needs to have God’s truth clearly articulated, so many within churches of Christ are selling out and blurring the distinction between the false religions of man and the religion of God. Those within churches of Christ who are embracing the denominations and working hard to get others to do the same are, in reality, participating with Satan to fool people into thinking they are acceptable to God when they are not. Of all the changes that churches of Christ are currently facing, surely this fraternization with denominational- ism is the most sinister, the most destructive, and the most tragic in its implications for the future of the church and for eternity. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do! (Piloting the Strait, 323).

(Houston Post, 8-2-99) — Ricky Blackmon, set to die Wednesday for the robbery-slaying of a Shelby County man who was stabbed and slashed with a homemade medieval-style sword in 1987. Blackmon, 41, the first of the half- dozen this month to face the lethal needle, says his death, likely to occur Wednesday because all his appeals are exhausted, is the best thing that could happen. “Every young man on death row should give thanks to God when they get an execution date,” he said. “If they wanted to punish me, that would be a life sentence. They are giving me a way out. I’m thanking God for it.”

Blackmon acknowledges hacking to death Carl Rinkle, 26, at Rinkle’s Shelby County home in far East Texas the night of March 28, 1987, and taking about $600 in cash and a small pistol.

The murder weapon was a 3-foot long serrated-edge steel sword the former sawmill worker made out of a saw blade. He blamed a girl- friend, jealousy, drugs, and a need for quick cash for the attack that left Rinkle butchered.

Blackmon’s girlfriend, who had been seen with the victim earlier in the evening, was arrested and led police to Blackmon. She wound up with a life prison term.

The son of a preacher, Blackmon, who was wearing a black ninja out- fit at the time of the killing, said he spurned father’s teachings until he arrived on death row. He’s looking forward to his death. “I’m going to a much better place,” he said. “I’m going to heaven. No doubt in my mind.”

Now, let us hear the rest of the story.

There is nothing good that can be said about this atrocious crime which was a working of Satan in his heart. Now, let us hear the rest of the story. I have made the journey from my home in Conroe, Texas to Huntsville’s Ellis #1 unit a good many times to visit Ricky Don and study the Word of God with him. He constantly studied the Bible and was always thrilled to see me that we might pray and study the Word together for about two hours.

Bob Pulliam, who preaches for the Woodland Hills church in Conroe, made these journeys with me. While I studied with Ricky Don, Bob taught another death row inmate. Ricky was a handsome man with a very clean and neat appearance. He was usually up- beat in spite of the circumstances. At the end of our sessions I would ask the guard to let me buy him a soft drink which was handed to him through a very small door. I never shook his hand. The nearest we came to contact was to place our hands opposite on the heavy steel wire that separated us. I had the opportunity to meet his parents while preaching a meeting at the 84th Street church in Oklahoma City. They drove quite a distance to attend two nights of the meeting. Not too long after that brother Blackmon, a gospel preacher, passed suddenly from this life. Of course, Ricky Don could not attend the funeral. They were godly people and according to Ricky they did what they could to bring him up in the right way. Parents should not be blamed for ungodly children when they have done their best to rear them in God’s way. Leon Goff baptized Ricky “into Christ” when he was a young man. After the execution his body was taken to Mt. Pleasant, Texas where Leon Goff and Larry Bilbo spoke at his funeral. A number of preachers and other Christians visited with him on various occasions. David Banning, who once preached at Huntsville and became friends with Ricky Don had been asked to witness the execution. Arnold Cochran, the present preacher at Huntsville, and David spent some time with him on Tuesday and on Wednesday before the execution time.

Ricky Don told me that when he was 17 years of age he rebelled against the Lord and his parents and refused to listen to their advice. He said, “Don’t blame my parents.” “Don’t blame the prosecuting attorney, he was just doing the job he was elected to do, nor the jury which simply acted on the evidence they heard. I alone have sinned.” Certainly, there were other wicked factors that helped provoke this crime, but he did the deed and he has paid the price of earthly punishment.

He did not try to hide his sins. He is the only prisoner I have dealt with who fully and completely acknowledged his wrong. Most inmates, to hear them tell it, were framed, mistakenly identified, just happened to be in the wrong place, or were abused as a child. Not so with Ricky, who said, “I am guilty, I deserved to be punished.”

He was penitent over his sins. If his language was true, and I believe it was, he was as sorry for what he did as the apostle Paul was for persecuting and killing Christians before his con- version. Ricky constantly apologized and prayed that God would forgive him for his terrible deed.

He was constantly trying to teach others. I sent him the Messenger every week. He read every word and passed it around to others as much as possible. I sent him articles, and others did also, which he used to teach those around him. Sometimes he was discouraged because others would not listen to the Truth, but he kept on trying. He wrote many letters to warn young people where he made his big mistake. If I knew of a young person who was getting on the wrong track, I would send him their address and he would send them a letter with some of the best advice one could read. I have read some of his letters to young people in various places and they were astonished. God alone knows how many young people may have been saved from ruin from his letters. Ricky has departed this life by reason of civil punishment, At the execution hour I could only think of Martin Luther King’s words; “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last.”

Young friends, there are three mistakes Ricky made when he was a young man. I urge you to beware of these three snares. He decided to leave God out of his life. Of course, God has been back in his life for a decade, for which we are grateful, but there was a time when God was not in the picture. It isn’t that he has not repented and that he cannot be saved, but just look at the price he has paid. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7-8). Some of this reaping can take place in this life — what a price to pay. My young friends, don’t make this mistake.

He decided that he would not listen to his parents. Children are not qualified to run their own lives, they need the guidance of good parents. Here is the reason why: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Prov. 6:20). My young friends, don’t make this mistake. He chose to run with the wild crowd. The wild crowd will promise you great things, but they always bring you to a bitter end.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us, let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof (Prov. 1:10-19).

My young friends, don’t make this mistake.

Let us profit from Ricky Don’s mistakes. Let us learn and profit by the way he turned his life around. He is gone, but his lessons remain. Our sympathy to his mother and brothers and sisters.

The prophets of old severely denounced wickedness. They pointed out the shortcomings and iniquities of corrupt priests, covetous leaders, false prophets, and people who strayed from God’s statutes. Their exposure of immorality, idolatry, rebellion, and other sins made them unpopular. Their censure often was sharp and stinging.

There is a sense in which every preacher of the gospel is a critic. His work includes expounding the Scriptures, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting (2 Tim. 4:2). He shows the right way and warns against wrong ways. He is not passive in his attitude toward unrighteousness.

All Christians must be alert to helping one another to avoid pitfalls. Jesus said, “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault . . .” (Matt. 18:15). There is a proper sense in which each disciple can be called a critic.

It is in a distinctly different sense that I speak of critics in this article. I am referring to those who carp, quibble, wrangle, and are given to fault-finding. I speak of nit pickers, knockers, backbiters, sore heads, and complainers — people who are harshly judgmental and specialize in censuring others.

There is one thing for which I am thankful, that is, the class of critics just defined constitute a small minority in most congregations.

Self-appointed critics test our patience. They will dis- courage and defeat us if we allow them to do so. They arouse our righteous indignation. They rock the boat un- necessarily and muddy the water when it could be crystal clear. They carp and scold constantly.

There is a story about a talented young musician who was depressed and dejected when he read the critics’ re- views of his recent concert. A famous composer comforted him by patting him on the back and remarking, “Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have erected a statue in honor of a critic.”

Some young people who needed encouragement have been cut down mercilessly by critics in the church. Mothers struggling to teach their little ones to sit with the adults during church services have been harshly reprimanded when they needed sympathy. Elders have been driven from the eldership by an endless barrage of complaints and castigations. Preachers have packed up and moved due to incessant and totally unjustified criticisms.

For those who have set themselves up in the business of being compulsive critics, I suggest that it does not require brains, training, or special skill to find fault. Remember this — no one ever made himself great by showing how small someone else is. It is much easier to point a finger than to lift a helping hand. A person does not move up by running others down. Blowing out another’s candle will not make your light shine brighter! If you must look for faults, lay aside your telescope and use a mirror.

Some who loudly criticize others about the way they are rearing their children need to look at their own kids. Brethren who downgrade the Bible class teachers ought to get up and try their hand at teaching. Those who quickly condemn the mistakes of others ought to soberly reflect on their own blunders.

Let us strive to be fruitful workers, not habitual fault- finders. Let us be dedicated builders, not senseless and malicious wreckers. Let us encourage and admonish, not spending our time and efforts in censure and kicking. Let us show an attitude of compassion and understanding, not a disposition to be harsh and judgmental. If we have criticisms to offer, let them be constructive and helpful, not unfair, rude, and mean-spirited. We can be firm and uncompromising in our stand for truth and opposition to error without becoming captious critics. We can earnestly contend for the faith without being cantankerous cavilers.