SOME VICK'S SALVE OR A POLK SALAD? I have written three articles and carried a few from the archives of W. L. Totty's pen that have dealt either specifically or in principle with the false view now being propagated by Grady Miller and Johnny Polk in First Century Christian (See The Informer, Volume 53, Numbers 25, 26, 27, 49, 50; Volume 54, Numbers 1,2). They are teaching that one church cannot scripturally withdraw fellowship from an apostate church. They call those who disagree with them "neo-sectarians." In my first article attacking the view that one church cannot withdraw from another church, we looked at Johnny Polk's trumped up consequences against said view. He said that for a church to withdraw from another church is to ignore the teaching of Jesus, that it "supplants Jesus as the Great Shephard of the sheep," that it "entrenches the human reasoning of Catholicism/Episcopalianism," that it codifies the 'preeminence'[sic] of a Diotrephes, that it nullifies any Restoration Movement, that it "restores the attitude of the Pharisees." I dealt with these supposed consequences given by Polk in The Informer, April 9, 2000. In my second attack I answered the silly view that one cannot say a church of Christ is no longer a church of Christ (The Informer, April 16, 2000). Grady Miller sarcastically wrote, "Perhaps one of our readers will offer a defense of how one congregation may declare another is not a church of Christ." But if a father ceases to be a father to his children, I can sat it. If a Christian ceases to be a follower of Christ, he can be identified as such. And if a church claims to belong to Christ but brings in a piano or organ into the worship, we can identify it as an apostate church. If not, why not? In my third assualt I dealt with Johnny Polk's view that one church cannot withdraw fellowship from another church (The Informer, April 23, 2000). Polk's false doctrine appeared in The First Century Christian (Nov. - Dec., 1999). If a church can fellowship another church, then by the same token, if necessary it can withdraw its fellowship. Since my first article appeared, I have been in lengthy correspondence with brother John T. Polk II on my attacks of his false view. He sent me his book, Is It The Church Of Jeroboam Or Jesus Christ? wherein he exposes false teachers, Lynn Anderson, Jeff Walling, Rubel Shelly, and Max Lucado. Then he concludes by saying: THOUGH FALSE TEACHERS WERE FREELY CIRCULATING AMONG THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST, NEVER DID THE APOSTLE PAUL CHASTISE A CHURCH FOR NOT WITHDRAWING FROM ANOTHER CHURCH, OR FORCE CHURCHES TO TAKE SIDES AGAINST EACH OTHER! SECTARIANISM, DENOMINATIONALISM, AND SCHISMS CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST (I Corintians 1.10-13)!Although Polk said some good things in his booklet by exposing these false teachers, I could not recommend it because of this statement. But the First Century Christian is recommending it. In its August-September issue there is a large advertisement for the booklet with the title, "RECOMMENDED READING." Brethren who are associated with First Century Christian, but do not agree wth editor Miller and ink-slinger Polk need to express their view on this matter. They need to either, as the old saying goes, "fish or cut bait." I know that some churches have either dropped their subscription to the paper or refused to put out the issues which propagate the false view that one church cannot withdraw fellowship from another church. Elders need to know before hand what will be put out for general consumption if possible. They should at least know that the ones who are doing the teaching are faithful and good examples. The eldership at the Shelbyville Road congregation has no intentions of putting out any paper that has articles by Grady Miller or Johnny Polk until they repent of their false view. This includes, but is not limited to, First Century Christian and Gospel Gleaner. One of the questions I have asked Johnny is whether the Dover church of Christ, where he preaches, has withdrawn fellowship from Woodmont Hills in Nashville, Tennessee. He has refused to answer the question. But given his view, the Dover church is unscriptural if it does recognize Shelly's church as an unscriptural church. But Johnny is ready to debate me. Or is he? He sent me propositions to sign. I have stated succinctly that it is scriptural for one church to withdraw its fellowship from an apostate church. Go back and read the aforementioned articles. So, what did Johnny send me? You be the judge as to whether you think he really wants a public discussion, especially in his neck of the woods. Below are the proposed propositions that Johnny sent me. I am numbering them for easy reference. The date beside each tells when he sent them.
Johnny has continued to accuse me of slander (I think he means libel), but he has not given any specific proof that validates his charge. I have simply dealt with his false doctrine and the consequences of it. He says that I am not penitent. He is exactly right. I am not repenting of opposing his false doctrine--not even if the cows come home. By the way, the title of this article was just to get your attention. The only salve I am trying to offer is the gospel of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 4.5; Jude 3). And it is "poke sallit" (sallet) or poke slad, not "Polk" as is our brother's name. I hppe in our exchange of views on a serious subject, he can take a little levity. If, however, I am forced to swallow a little "Polk salad," that is, his false doctrine, I am afraid I will get sick. | ||||||||