Volume  3    Issue   06  December 15th, 2002

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    Many false teachers today are marked far and wide for their erring positions.  In response to being marked they cry: “you’ve broken church autonomy”.  The brethren who argue this position are obviously unfamiliar with passages such as Galatians 6:1-2.  Notice the responsibility that Galatians 6:1-2 lays upon each individual Christian: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”  This passage is universal in command and in application.  It is for each and every individual Christian to help any brother they know who has been overtaken in a fault.  Our first priority with any erring brother or group of erring brethren should be to convert them to truth (Acts 18:24-28).  Such is what Paul did when he wrote: I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, etc.  Paul did not break congregational autonomy.  Paul loved the brotherhood enough to reprove, rebuke, and exhort his brethren.  Peter wrote to brethren scattered abroad (I Peter 1:1), while he served as a local elder (I Peter 5:1).  Did he break autonomy?  No, he loved the brotherhood!

    (I Peter 2:17) “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”  We, as conservative members of the body of Christ, focus greatly on obeying the word of God in the strictest way.   Why is it that brethren can follow other commands such as to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians11:23ff.) but, when it comes to the command to love the brotherhood many are lacking in their efforts to fulfill it.  Brethren have become indifferent [apathetic], when it comes to being involved with combating error in the brotherhood.  When we get this way, we fail to love our brethren.

    Brethren cannot continue to fail to see that in loving someone, the greatest thing you can do is help them from being lost.  That is what Christ said to the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:19).  This same principle was the reasoning behind God sending His Son to this earth to die (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-9).  This principle was what the household of Chloe followed when Paul received the report from them that there was division at Corinth (I Corinthians 1:11).  Paul made no condemnation for this report, he acted upon it.  He wrote to the church at Corinth about their division.  We must follow Paul’s example by getting in contact with those we know who are in error.  By doing this we may get some to repent.  However, in contacting some person or congregation in error, they may choose to ignore our plea to come back to the truth.  In this case we must then mark that individual or group of Christians so that all may know they are in error (Romans 16:17-18).  While many brethren would agree with this in principle, they would disagree that there is authority for us to mark someone who is not of our own local congregation.  This idea rises from a lack of understanding on the subject of church autonomy.

    Brethren need to realize that Christ is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18 and Ephesians 1:22-23).  Christ has already ruled on doctrinal matters.  The only ruling that a local eldership has to make is in the realm of expediencies.  For example: Christ has ruled on the day we have to assemble by showing us our first day of the week example in Acts 20:7.  A local church has the choice of when that assembling will take place on that day.  The Bible teaches that a local church has the responsibility of evangelism (I Thessalonians 1:7-8).  With this responsibility we have approved expediencies of supporting preachers from their own treasuries and not cooperating one with another in this avenue of work (I Corinthians 9:14, II Corinthians 11:8, and Philippians 4:15-16).  In such matters each congregation must make up their own minds to what is expedient for them so long as they do not violate the command.  In these areas elders have oversight of only those among the local flock (I Peter 5:1-3).  However, matters of doctrine have already been settled.  Doctrine is settled in the pages of the inspired word of God.  The Bible shows us that we can be involved with helping those outside of our local congregations see the errors they may be teaching or involved in.

    One clear Bible example of brethren involving themselves in matters outside of their own local work is found in Acts 15:22ff.  Did these brethren break congregational autonomy?  If so, God is also at fault because this was done through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28).  The Biblical evidence of our responsibility to cross city lines, county lines, state lines, and even to travel to lands far away in helping our brethren see the truth is overwhelming.  To conclude that God wants us to keep our noses out of what is taught in other congregations is to call men like the Apostle Paul erring brethren. Surely, anyone with a clear mind can see that God intended for us to help brethren both locally and universally.  That is the nature of our work in preaching.  It does not allow us to combine funds or join hands locally on those things which are expedient, but in declaring truth and exposing error there are no congregation lines to cross.

    Brethren today have taken positions too far right to steer from the left thus, our understanding of issues such as church autonomy have been clouded.  We realize that churches have to have local oversight of their own funds and their own people, but to stretch that and say that brethren cannot involve themselves in saving those who assemble outside of the local church is a stretch that God has not made.  To apply that is to cancel all Gospel Meetings, Lectures, Missionary Trips, etc.  Whenever we declare truth we naturally expose error.  This cannot be avoided.  To stop naming names under the false excuse of autonomy is to abuse the scriptures and fall into condemnation.

    Brethren who do not want exposed publicly for their false doctrines should keep them to themselves.  It is our responsibility to help those in error and if they fail to hear our words of rebuke to warn others of their false doctrines to aid in protecting the church.  The authority to mark brethren far and wide is certainly clear in the Bible (Romans 16:17-18, I Timothy 1:20, and II Timothy 4:10; 4:14).  Paul went so far to do what some brethren call “meddling in another congregation’s business”, to tell the church at Corinth they needed to discipline a fornicator that was among them (I Corinthians chapter 5).  Why do brethren today that argue the above stated, ever so weak position, of autonomy when it comes to marking false brethren still call the Apostle Paul a sound brother in Christ?  I can only imagine the harsh words Paul might use to some of our apathetic brethren today.

    I personally want to be known as one who will not fear being named as a preacher who will not close his eyes and mouth to the errors taught among brethren.  I, as a gospel preacher, want to follow the inspired example of brethren in the first century.  I have studied the letter to the “Seven churches of Asia Minor” (Revelation 2-3), and I know that John did not violate church autonomy in telling all mankind the errors that existed in five of those seven churches.  All of us should be as equally united on marking false teachers as we are in preaching baptism!  Will you settle for the sorry excuses our brethren have hurled out to keep their names from being called out in pulpits and publications, or will you stand boldly in naming those who are abusing the body of Christ?  Marking false teachers is about loving truth and hating error.  Marking false teachers means we have a Biblically approved attitude: (Psalms 119:104) “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”  Marking false teachers is about loving the brotherhood.  Do you love your brethren?

    A recent bill was signed by Gov. Schweiker that protects homosexuals against “ethnic intimidation” (http://papress.state.pa.us/ctc/data/20021204.001.htm).  The Washington Post writes about this action in an article titled: “Critics Fear Law for Gays Will Muzzle Preachers” (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021204-78946526.htm).  Notice several quotes from the article by the Washington Post:

“Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker yesterday signed legislation that gives homosexuals statewide legal protection from verbal harassment and hate crimes — a move that critics argue targets church leaders who preach against the homosexual lifestyle.”

 “The legislation adds the phrase "ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity" to the state's Ethnic Intimidation law. The existing law calls for longer jail terms and higher fines for crimes motivated by hatred against victims because of race, color, religion or national origin.”

“The additional language means that someone convicted of attacking a homosexual because of his sexual orientation would face a longer jail term and stiffer fines, just as a person does now for targeting a racial minority.”

“The legislation was drafted by Philadelphia-based Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights (CLGCR) and supported by Republicans and Democrats alike. The state House last week passed the measure 118-79, and the state Senate passed it 32-15 last year.”

1. The Bible teaches that we are to be subject to civil government (Romans 13:1-7).
2. The Bible also teaches that we are never to allow civil government to keep us from preaching the truth (Acts 5:14-42).
3. The Bible shows us that we are to continue to do that which is right even if the laws of men prohibit it (Daniel 6:4-22, Acts 4:1-20, and Acts 16:16ff.).
4. The Bible shows us that we are to preach against sin so that men can change (Ezekiel 3:18 and Acts 20:26-27).
5. The Bible shows us that Homosexuality is sinful and will cause those who practice it to be lost (Leviticus 18:22-23, Leviticus 20:13, and II Peter 2:6 / Cf. Genesis 18-19).

To find what representatives you can write based upon what district you are in see this web site: http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm

Let’s be ready to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3).  – B.A.Y.

Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – Brian Yeager
Assisting – Bill Graham and George Papp
First Prayer – Terry Nannie
Closing Prayer – Jay Wagner

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Keep in your prayers: Mike Lockwood as he travels, Steve Burgoon as he recovers, and Joan Croyle who has been struggling with her health.

Special Thanks:
We should be thankful that we have Brother Bill Graham who was willing and able to step in for the teaching and preaching last week as I was ill.  He had very little notice and was prepared to handle the tasks.  Thanks Bill!  - B.A.Y