| The Informer Vol. 54 January 22, 2001 No. 12
During the third week of February Jeffrey R. Johnson, who preaches for the Blueville congregation in Grafton, WV, and Jim E. Waldron, evangelist with the church in Dunlap, TN, will debate the manner in which the Holy Spirit dwells and works in Christians. On the evenings of February 19 and 20 Waldron will affirm: The scriptures teach that the holy spirit dwells and works in Christians exclusively by means of the written word through faith. Johnson will deny. On those two evenings the debate will be held in the auditorium of the Dewey Ave. church of Christ, 701 Dewey Ave.,St. Marys, WV. Those who need accommodation or have other questions may contact Dan Kissinger, Dewey Ave. preacher, at 304-684-3939 or304-684-2242. On the evenings of the 22nd and 23rd Johnson will affirm: The Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit dwells and operates in Christians directly as well as through the written word. Waldron will deny. On those two evenings the Blueville church, Grafton, WV, will host the debate. Their meeting house is on U.S. Route 119 one quarter mile north of the junction of Routes U.S. 50 and 119. Questions may be directed to brother Johnson at 304-265-3981 or at 304-265-3937. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. each evening and last until about 9:15p.m. Christians in the region are encouraged to attend this debate on this timely subject. [Brother Vick will be moderating for Brother Waldron in this discussion.] --Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 4, No.1 Top of Page The Informer index "CHRISTIAN MUSIC LIGHTS UP LIPSCOMB" NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN, OCT. 12, 2000 "David Lipscomb University's Collins Alumni Auditorium is the site of a notable contemporary Christian show (open to Christians and non, contemporary and old-school) tonight. The concert features Caedmon's Call, a seven piece band that blends Rootsy rock, Hootified ball-capguitar pop and even a few urban flourishes into a lively mix that fits nicely with lyrics of wonders both worldly and deified. "Equally intriguing is Nicole Nordeman, whose This Mystery is a beautifully sung, pop song set, a brave album that calls into question the validity of narrowly framed religion and doctrines as a means of understanding divinity (sounds like a bit of a drag when I put itthat way, but the album is actually pretty fun). Justin McRoberts is also on the bill. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and available at Lifeway Christian stores or by phone at 251-2500. 8 p.m. is the start time." Top of Page The Informer index LIPSCOMB AND ROOTSY ROCK Jim E. Waldron The preceding article makes it clear that Lipscomb is promoting vain "Christian music" and charging for it. This is prima-facie evidence that Steve Flatt and the Lipscomb board are willing for Christians all over the country to send their offspring to Lipscomb and have them exposed to "Rootsy rock, Hootified ballcap guitar pop...with lyrics of wonder both worldly and deified." This is sanctioned on campus while these men send glowing reports to families across the nation proclaming: "Lipscomb University, a distinctly Christian university. All faculty and staff members are faithful Christians active in local congregations." Here is a clear example of men saying one thing while promoting another. The Lord Jesus spoke of such, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you saying: These people draw near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me teaching for doctrine the commandments of men" (Matt15:7-9). Brother David Lipscomb was the founder of the Nashville Bible, which has grown into David Lipscomb University and some might say he would turn over in his grave if he knew such "concerts" were being held on his old farm property. But that is not true, such cannot happen. What is true is that he will rise up in the resurrection with this generation of Lipscomb bureaucrats (Cf. Matt. 12:41-42), and condemn this promotion of vain philosophy that questions "the validity of narrowly framed religion and doctrine as a means of understanding divinity"....Was it not Jesus Christ Himself who "narrowly framed" His religion when He said, "enter in by the narrow gate" (Matt7:13)? Was it not the Holy Spirit who said, "whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God (2 John 9)? Top of Page The Informer index THE WINTERFEST CORPORATION Jim E. Waldron The Winterfest Group as they call themselves has its headquarters at 14301 Middleberry Rd., Edmond, OK, 73013. During the early winter of the new year they will sponsor two"Winterfests"--one at Arlington, TX (January 19-21) and on at Gatlinburg, TN,(February 16-18). Just a few clicks of your mouse on their website (http://www.winterfest.org.) will enable you to see that denominational music groups and false teachers from within the church are being used to desensitize our youth against instruments of music in Christian worship and other compromises with denominationalism. One of the groups that is featured in Arlington is called the Phalanges. This is a percussion band that uses "junk" to pour out a religious bear. As one admirer wrote, "Their instruments and sets may be discarded junk to some but in their hands these pieces of wood, metal,and plastic can sing" (Sarah Vangier, St. Louis Post Dispatch). Another quote on their internet site is from one Greg Dolezal: "...it's great to see someone taking the stage in the name of Jesus." In their "history" they write, "Our first performances were in our respective churches." Another quote "some kids in my youth group..were totally turned on to Christianity because they saw you play." Beloved, is this what you want your son or daughter to learn--that it is okay to use denominational "percussion bands" to play religious music to convert young people? Convert them to what? Some will say, "Oh, it wasn't a worship service." Then what is the purpose of calling on God and the name of Jesus in such band productions? Are such just vain uses of the name of the Father and the Son? Is not such use in violation of Exodus 20:7? Jeff Walling of the Providence Road church in Charlotte, NC, is on the program at both locations. This brother has for years been trying to convince our young people that instruments in Christian worship are just "a matter of opinion...a gray area." This he did during a panel discussion at the young people's meeting at the Andover Road church of Christ in Andover, KS, in 1981 (See BulletinBriefs, May 1998). He has continued to advocate such through the years. See Goebel Music's Behold the Pattern, 5114 Montclair, Colleyville, TX. In January 1999, brother John Gary Williams of LaVergne, TN, near Nashville, documented how Walling had spoken at the 1998 Jubilee and "belittled the Lord's church. Often having the audience in laughter." Williams continued, "He has a woman give a public testimony which turned into a sermon--in clear violation of I Corinthians 14:34 and I Timothy 2:12-15. He cleverly promoted the direct operation of the Holy Spirit" (SeeBulleting Briefs, January, 1999). Other speakers on the Winterfest programs include Jimmy Sites,who preached for the Madison, TN, church, Patrick Mead, Jerome Williams and Greg Anderson, who preaches for the Western Hills church near Nashville and is one of the officers of the Winterfest Corporation. When I wrote last January that Winterfest was a "money making operations" one of the officers asked me why I had written that. I replied, "because you charge for the side shows"(they call them concerts). That officer replied, "We charge for everything." And they do, as I learned from their website. It costs $18 for the general registration. Thirty-two dollars pays for registration, the concerts and a T-shirt. So if 1000 attendthe corporation has $32,000 to provide for itself and costs. The guests provide their own lodging and food. The Winterfest Group is not the church or any part of the church. It is a commercial corporation that is in business to seek compromise in the form of religion to our young people. Elders who have youth ministers who want to take their young people to such should remember that the church's overseers have the obligations to stop the mouths of those who "subvert whole households teaching things which they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:11). [The preceding articles are from Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 4 No.1] Top of Page The Informer index |