As I sat watching a newscast they were discussing the liberals among the Republican Party.  One commentator said that the Republican Party needed to be more left than right of center on social issues.  He said that Republicans were allowing the “Religious Right” of society to dictate policy.  This commentator, being a Republican, said that he is more along the lines of a Rudy Giuliani Republican.  The two began then to battle issues of social conservativism.

     You might be wondering what in the world that has to do with anything.  Well, I needed an introduction to an article, isn’t that enough (just kidding)?  This discussion seemed a lot like brethren today.  We have conservative congregations, liberal congregations, quasi conservative congregations, quasi liberal congregations, conservative liberal congregations, and so on.  Thus, brethren of our day find themselves asking what of all these choices is right.  Some brethren make whether or not a congregation supports human organizations like orphan homes their litmus test and others the exact opposite.  Some ask if they use one or multiple containers in partaking of the fruit of the vine to see if a group is sound.  Some think as long as a congregation has a sign that says church of Christ then they’re the Lord’s church.  Some think that if a congregation does not use instrumental music they are okay.  On and on we could go for a long time in showing what we are going to study in this article, but I think that point should be clear.  Let’s start our study with some common misunderstandings.

      You are doing the right thing when looking for a congregation to work with and / or attend that is opposed to the practices commonly known as Institutionalism.  You are also right to look for a congregation that does not use mechanical instrumental music in worship.  This however, cannot be the only criteria one uses to find a faithful group of Christians.  The fact that a congregation may be opposed to one, two, three, or any other number of errors, does not mean that congregation is sound in the faith.

      A local congregation is to be united upon the Lord’s doctrine, speaking the same thing, being of the same mind, and judgment (I Corinthians 1:10).  There are plenty of non-institutional, non-instrumental churches of Christ that do not come close to meeting what Paul wrote of as unity.  There are many, in fact, that practice unity in diversity.  They have many doctrines being taught, believed, and practiced while they choose to simply overlook them.  This is somewhat common among churches that have the positive mental attitude preaching.  That idea of course is the exact opposite of the reprove, rebuke, and exhort instructions Paul gave Timothy in regards to preaching the Gospel (II Timothy 4:2).

      There are non-institutional congregations that teach Jesus did not use His attributes of Deity while on earth.  This is of course contrary to the teaching of the New Testament.  Not only does the word of God point out that Jesus was, is, and always will be God (Matthew 1:23, John 1:1-5, and I Timothy 3:16), but the word of God also shows that Jesus used His attributes of Deity while on earth.  For example, there are “brethren” who teach that all Jesus did in ways of miracles was done through the Holy Spirit.  Such is true of the Apostles (John 14:26, 16:13, and Acts 2:1-4), but not of Christ.  How do we know there is a distinction?  Name one Apostle that accepted worship.  I can name one who refused it (Acts 10:25-26).  Jesus however, was able to receive worship on earth because He was deity (Matthew 8:1-2, Matthew 9:18, etc.).  If Jesus were not deity on earth, how could He accept worship and not contradict His own teaching that only God is to be worshipped (Matthew 4:10)?

      There are non-institutional congregations that will oppose congregational support of para-church organizations, but they do not oppose their existence.  In fact, some of these congregations even non-financially support these para-church organizations.  For example, these congregations would condemn “Christian Colleges” taking money from church treasuries for their work, but they would not oppose those colleges for unauthorized practices.  This is a break down in the understanding and application of Bible Authority, for no collective group of Christians has the right to perform the works that God has given for the local church.   When these brethren are properly pressed for Scriptures to authorize these things (Colossians 3:17 and I Peter 4:11), they try to make the college an adjunct of the home or an extension of the individual.  This is no different than the liberal’s arguments for the orphan home to be an extension of the home.

     There are many doctrines and many more arguments to expose those errors as well as the errors briefly introduced above that we need to be aware of.  The point is, just because a congregation is sound in an area or two; that does not mean they are on other subjects.  A congregation may even have a known strong preacher, but that does not speak for where the congregation will or will not stand in regards to truth vs. error.  As in all things, we need to be careful and try brethren to be sure they are of God (I John 4:1).  Some would say that this is casting doubt on Christians.  They would be correct.  I however, am not the first one to do so.  Consider the doubt that Jesus, Paul, Peter, and Jude casts on so-called disciples (Matthew 7:15-20, Acts 20:28-31, II Peter 2:1-3, and Jude 3-4).  We can know the faithful, but it is not just by making a few issues our test to find out who they are.

     Faithful Christians are not those who just stand for one part of the truth.  Faithful Christians preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27).  A faithful congregation will be made up of people who are students of God’s word (Acts 17:10-11).  As students of God’s word they may come to points of disagreement.  They will not however seek to find ways to agree to disagree (Amos 3:3).  Faithful Christians will examine God’s word and stand upon the truth regardless of who says otherwise (Galatians 1:10).  These Christians will walk by the same rule (Philippians 3:16).

     You will not hear faithful Christians make excuses for error or those that teach it.  They will be a group of brethren who do not fear exposing error (Romans 16:17-18 and Ephesians 5:11).  If you find that you differ with these brethren on a doctrinal matter, they will instruct you of the right ways which be of God (Acts 18:24-28).  You better expect no less of them, than for those faithful saints to expect you to apply the truth you are being taught by them (James 1:21-25).

     The faithful will not align themselves with any political group of brethren.  They will not have their magazine or college of choice that they stand with or behind.  These faithful brethren will not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) or to be hated by those in error for standing for the truth (Luke 6:26).  You’ll not find a one man ruler in this congregation that is trying to take the preeminence (III John 9-11).  You’ll find that these brethren settle their faith from what God has said on all matters (II Peter 1:3).

     These faithful brethren will not at all welcome just anyone with open arms.  They will be soldiers of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-17 and I Timothy 6:12), who know that the devil tries to divide from within (Matthew 7:15-16).  They will be fruit inspectors who know the word of God enough to judge righteous judgments instead of by appearance (John 7:24).  In other words, these brethren are not afraid to examine you to find out if you are of God.

     Among many other things, you will find that these brethren love the truth (II Thessalonians 2:10) and one another (John 13:34-35).  They know that Heaven is far greater a reward than anything this world has to offer (I John 2:15-17).  Thus, they will not cling to the things of this world or seek friendship with this world (James 4:4). They will hate carnal thinking (Romans 8:5-7).  These are just a few marks of the faithful.

     It is sad that present politics of this world would bring to mind the actions of many brethren.  Nonetheless, such is reality.  The litmus test has to be truth.  We have to purge the idea that we can rest where the majority rules.  Having A few things in common, doesn’t mean that the Lord approves.  Let’s allow the word of God to be our litmus test!