Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: December 16, 2007


THOSE WHO WILL NOT ANSWER (Part 5)
Ben Justice

[CONTINUATION LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE AND LAST IN THIS SERIES]

On June 21, 2007, Brother Enlow responded to my inquiry.  Exactly how did he
respond?  Here are the first two sentences of his response:

Thanks for your inquiry about 21st Century Global Missions.

The answer to your last question is, YES.

What was my last question?  Here it is again: “Also, would you be willing to
answer some Biblical questions?”  At the very beginning of his letter in all capital
letters he said, “YES.”  Great, here was one brother willing to answer some Bible
questions.  So, I sent him a 56 page questionnaire.  He wrote back and here is
what he said:

Thank you for you (sic) questionnaire.  I am puzzled about, why or for what purpose you are
sending me a 56 question’s (sic) questionnaire. . . .

Now, you and the brethren, take time to fill out the questionnaire and send a copy to me, then I
will agree with you, or write and answer anything of disagreement. . . .
      
So, Brother Enlow initially agreed to answer Bible questions, but when I actually
sent them to him and he got a chance to look at them, he all of sudden did not
want to answer them.  Amazingly, he wanted me and the brethren at Sullivan to
take the time to answer our own questions and then send him a copy of our
answers.  In a follow up letter to Brother Enlow I told him that he was offended
at such questioning.  He never did deny this.  Of course, actions such as these
are typical of liberals in the church today.

I have always told brethren in the past that I am willing to answer any questions
or concerns that they may have concerning where I stand.  I have absolutely no
problem at all in answering as many questions as one can throw out.  Sure,
there is a time to keep silence (Ecc. 3:7).  We should not get bogged down in
“foolish and unlearned questions” (2 Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:9). Unfortunately, some
brethren don’t ever want to answer or address anything; they adamantly refuse
to answer sincere and legitimate questions and address sincere and legitimate
concerns.  There are some brethren in the church today who I never thought
would be guilty of this.  The faculty at Memphis School of Preaching refuses to
answer questions dealing with Dave Miller.  This was evident when they didn’t
answer the questions the Lenoir City congregation sent them in 2005.  Brother
David Jones sent it back to Lenoir City unopened.  What a shame!  Of late,
Brother Dub McClish has refused to address my questions and concerns (and
from other brethren also) over the use of women translators.  The reason why
many today will not answer questions and address concerns is because they
obviously have something to hide.  They have so much pride that they can’t
possibly admit they are wrong.  I Peter 3:15 is still in the Bible whether brethren
like it or not!


THE NEW TESTAMENT – OUR GUIDE
J.D. Tant

When the church was established and began to work, Paul wrote 14 letters to
churches and preachers telling them how to live. James wrote one letter, Peter
two, John three, and Jude one. These are all letters of church discipline and
government, telling church members how to live.

The last book in the New Testament was written by John. The Revelation not
only tells of the past and the present in the first century, but crosses the river of
death and tells us of the future home God has prepared for those who love Him
and do His commandments. He tells us that on the other side of the river of
death there is no night, but one eternal day; no sickness, sorrow, pain, or death.
The river of life and the tree of life are found there. So the New Testament —
properly divided, read, understood, and obeyed — is a safe guide to lead us into
the city whose Builder and Maker is God.

In summary, there are 27 books in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John tell me what I must believe in order to be saved. Acts of Apostles tells me
what I must do to be saved. The 21 letters of Christian instruction that follow
tell me how I must live and work after I am saved in order to finally reach the
heavenly home we read about in the last book of the Bible.
My brethren are often condemned for preaching so much in Acts of Apostles, but
this will be our leading book as long as we teach salvation to a dying world, for
this is where we find the plan of salvation first taught by the apostles after they
had Holy Ghost baptism which qualified them to preach the gospel to all the
world. As long as we teach the same things the apostles taught them to do, we
are sure we are teaching the word of God, and we are also sure we will be
rewarded at the last day for so doing. So, let all be satisfied with the simple word
of God, to teach and fight it out along that line, knowing that if we do this,
heaven will be our home.