A Picture of a Change Agent

By John Waddey

(Edited by Bob Myhan)

Now and again one stumbles upon a line or a phrase that states in a clear, concise way what he wishes to communicate. The follow quote, shared by Don Mitroff is one of those jewels.

"The gospel's most dangerous earthly adversaries are not raving atheists who stand outside the door shouting threats and insults. They are church leaders who cultivate a gentle, friendly, pious demeanor but hack away at the foundations of faith under the guise of keeping in step with a changing world." — Phil Johnson

I don't know who Phil Johnson is. I don't know just whom he had in mind when he expressed these thoughts. But I do know that he has painted a vivid description of certain men, operating within the ranks of the Churches of Christ, with the stated intention of changing them. In their arrogance, they wish to cast aside those peculiar beliefs and practices that distinguish the Lord's church from other bodies of Evangelical Protestantism. To them such things as one visible church (Eph. 4:4), baptism for remission of sins as a condition of salvation (Acts 2:38), a cappella singing (Eph. 5:19), and male-led churches (I Tim. 2:11-12) are old-fashioned and embarrassing for men of their education and importance. They want to "postmodernize" the church by transforming her into the image of postmodern theologians and church growth specialists. Christ as head over all things to the church (Eph.1:22) and the full authority of the Scripture in the life and faith of the church mean little to these change agents. They want...therefore they will have a church that suits their fancy.

Such men are unworthy disciples of Christ. They wear his name but refuse to obey his orders. They claim to represent His church, but they really represent the desires of their own carnal hearts. Already these promoters of change have done great harm to the church....

Every Christian man and woman must understand the danger these promoters of change represent. To tolerate them in our midst is to invite disaster. As factious teachers they must be rejected (Tit. 3:10). Shut the doors of your congregation to them. Let not one dime of your financial resources be given to them and their causes. Such false teachers are parasites who wish to live off of the very church they will consume and destroy. Separated from the host body they will soon wither and die.

When the change agents are all dead and gone, when their movement has run its course and is only a sad note in our history, the Lord's church will continue to live and serve her Master. She will still wear the ancient garments of truth and righteousness bestowed upon her by her Savior. She will still be submissive to the Last Will and Testament of Christ. She will be content to believe, worship and serve God just as her predecessors have done for two millennia. She will be patiently and faithfully serving until her Beloved shall appear in the clouds to gather all God’s children and take them home. If we hope to be with the holy Groom in glory, we must be faithful members of his church, his bride, while we spend our days on earth. To be faithful unto death must forever be our resolve (Rev. 2:10). &  

The Nature of Faith

By Bob Myhan

In Hebrews 11:1-3 we are told four things about faith. It is (1) “the substance of things hoped for,” (2 “the evidence of things not seen,” (3) that by which “the elders obtained a good testimony,” and (4) that by which “we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”

The prefix, “sub” (meaning “under”) and the word, “stance” (meaning “stand”), combine to form the word “substance.” Thus, substance is that which “stands under” or gives support to a thing.

“Hope” may be defined as “desire plus expectation.” Hope has no support without faith for faith creates both the desire and the expectation of what is promised. Therefore, if one loses his faith, he necessarily loses his hope, as well. We do not hope for what we do not expect or do not desire. Nor do we hope for what we already possess.

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Rom. 8:24, 25).

The word, “evidence,” implies that faith is not blind. The psalmist tells us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” (19:1)

We may conclude—by observing the heavens—that God is glorious and—by observing the firmament—that He is handy in His work. But the only evidence we have that He created all things is our faith.

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

So by hearing the word of God on the matter of creation we have evidence of its factuality.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)

Thus, if we believe both these things, we will “diligently seek Him.” So faith is not mystical but rational in nature.

Jesus asked,

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6:46-49).

Thus, when one hears what God’s word says, and accepts it (to the extent of acting on it) then, and only then, it may be said that he has faith. &