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"THE CRUX OF THE MATTER"

If the Abilene Christian University professors have accurately portrayed what is taking place in the churches of Christ today, then God's house needs a thorough cleaning. And it cannot wait until Spring! Jeff W. Childers, Douglas A. Foster, and Jack R. Reese, in the The Crux Of The Matter, have written:

"Within Churches of Christ today, one is likely to find contemporary music displayed with PowerPoint on overhead screens, worship teams consisting of both men and women, choruses and solos, congregational readings and recitations of the Lord's Prayer, hand raising, and hand clapping, ministry teams, cell groups, elders who lay on hands and anoint with oil, and a few who have introduced instrumental worship. Some have women who serve the Lord's Supper, read Scripture, pray, or perhapseven preach in the assembly and teach classes for adults. Some congregations do not use the name 'Church of Christ' on their marquee or letterhead, have members who believe that God will save at least some people who don't attend a Church of Christ, and believe the Hooy Spirit is alive, active among us, and doing surprising and even miraculous things. And much, much more" (pp.22-23).

Before we get to the broom of God's word to sweep away that which does not belong in God's house (I Tim 3.15), let us use the winnow of God's word to separate the wheat from the chaff. One of the tactics of the devil and his advocates is to lump everything together, the authorized and the unauthorized, the good and the bad. The young and the unlearned may fail to discern the difference.

There is a difference between what is an expedient and what is an addition. A matter of expediency falls within the boundaries of the command, or law. An addition is something added to God's law that is unauthorized. An expedient must first be lawful (I Cor 6.12). For instance, Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk 16.15). The command to "go" authorizes us to do that very thing, but it allows us liberty as to our means, or mode, of travel. We may "go" by mule or jet, by walking or riding, by internet or in person. Likewise, we are commanded to "sing" when we worship God. When we use a songbook or overhead screen to carry out the command, we are still just singing. But if an organ or piano is brought into the worship, that is an addition to the singing. It goes beyond the command to sing. It is unauthorized and sinful (Eph. 5.19; Col. 3.16-17).

It is not contrary to Scripture to put songs on a screen and allow the audience to read from the screen. But for the sake of my eyes would I prefer to read from a book than from a screen some distance from me. I do not know any Biblical principle that would condemn a congregation's reading aloud a passage of Scripture, except perhaps its not being "in order" (I Cor. 14.40), thus, causing confusion. The Lord's Prayer was a model or example in order to teach his disciples how to pray. "Thy kingdom come" has been answered (Ac 1). Why would those who are in the kingdom, or the church, pray for the kingdom to come? They are in it if they are members of the church (Jn 3.3-5; Col 1.13; Rv 1.9).

But setting aside the winnow, let'spick up the broom and do a clean sweepon those unauthorized practices. Paul said, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father" (Col. 3.17).

What about worship teams consisting of men and women? First, God does not allow a woman to be a leader over men (I Tim. 2.11-12). She does not have authority to serve in such a leadership capacity. Second, I have never seen a "worship team" in action, but what's the reason for this? Is it just to ape the denominations? In singing, one can more easily follow a good leader than a group of leaders. I wonder why a symphony usually has only one conductor leading it?

Let those who favor the use of a chorus or solo in the worship assembly give authority for it (Col 3.16-17). It our corporate worship, i.e., when the congregation comes together to worship, all Christians are commanded to sing. To bring in a choir or special musical group into the worship has no more authority than the mechanical instrument. Such additions are clearly condemned in the New estament (Gal 1.6-9; Rv. 22.18-19).

What about hand raising? Did not Paul say, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (I Tim 2.8)? Is this verse to be taken literally? Does this verse authorize the raising of hands and even the swaying of the arms as the Pentecostals do? Whether or not our prayers are heard is not based on the position of the body. What counts is the position of the heart. Years ago some brethren thought that the only way to pray was to get on the knees. I saw brother Andy T. Richie, Jr., get on one knee when a public prayer was offered. Anyone who knew the meek and humble man knew that he did not do it for show, nor did he bind his practice upon others. No one believed in showing reverence to God more than he. But I raise the question, "What's the purpose of some today raising their hands in the assembly when it has never been a custom in the Lord's church?"

What about "hand clapping"? I find no authority in the New Testament for the practice. We are all participants with God in worship. Preachers and elders should put a stop to this practice for which there is no "thus saith the Lord" for it. Let the innovators bring forth the proof, or quit the practice.

"Ministry Teams." I am not sure what this entails. The seven selected to care for the widows in the daily ministration worked together (Ac 6.1-6). Several worked together in taking the special contribution to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (Rm. 15.25-27; II Cor. 8.16-24). Paul had fellow labourers (Rm 16.21; Phil 4.3). None in the first century were clled "ministry teams." In a sense, each congregation is a "ministry team," but the New Testament does not use the expression.

"Cell Groups" are the fad in some congregations now. Congregations are dismissing the regular worship on Sunday evening and/or Wednesday night Bible Study for these "cell groups." This practice was borrowed from the Crossroads/Boston Movement, which caused much havok and division in the church. The practice also raises some questions in my mind. Why does a congregation spend thousands of dollars to build a nice building with an auditorium and classrooms and then decide to not meet in it? How can the elders keep up with the flock if it is scattered all over the place (Ac 20.28; I Pt 5.1-3)? Could not the unruly, vain talkers, and deceivers more easily subvert whole house in this kind of an arrangement (Titus 1.10-11)? I question the prudence of such a practice. It opens the door for trouble. The practice ought to be avoided.

But what about elders' laying on hands and anointing with oil? James 5.14-15 reads, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." The environment of this passage was the miraculous age. In the first centurycertain saints were endowed with spiritual, or miraculous, gifts. They received them by the apostles' hands (Ac 8.13-21; Rm 1.11). When one was sick in the first century, he was to call for the elders, who would pray on his behalf. The anointing with oil was symbolic (Lev 8.12; I Sam 10.1; I Kngs 19.15-16), medicinal (Lk 10.34), or a way to "freshen up" in Bible times (Mt 6.17). There was nothing in the olive oil that was miraculous. The Pentecostals use oil in anointing individuals today, but they cannot miraculously cure an ingrown toenail. I have only seen "anointing oil" in one building that had belonged to the church, but was sold to the Pentecostals. James told individual Christians when they were sick to call for the elders, who were miraculously endowed in the first century. Observe that it is theprayer of faith, not the faithful, that will save the sick. Any Christian who is sick can call for any other Christian or all Christians to pray on his behalf. Today no Christian, including elders, has miraculous powers to heal the sick. But we can all pray that God will use the doctors, nurses, and medicines to heal our sick loved ones.

(To Be Continued)

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