Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: November 26, 2006
GOOD PEOPLE IN BAD CHURCHES (Part 2)
Dub McClish
[CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK]
Further Motivations to Move
Revelation 18:4 furnishes two reasons, but there are additional sound reasons
why saints should flee modern “Babylons.”
• To Support Truth and Righteousness: One who remains in a digressive
church not only supports error, but he robs God and His faithful people of the
fellowship and support due them. Not only should one not want to support false
doctrine, he should greatly desire to support only sound doctrine. As long as one
remains in a liberal church, he robs God (and 4 His faithful people) of time,
talents, money, and every means of his support and endorsement. This reason
alone should be sufficient to cause one to “come forth” from an apostate group.
• To Save One’s Soul: One should flee a liberal congregation for the sake of his
own soul. Remaining in a “Babylon” church makes one subject to God’s eternal
judgment against it. As already noted, although Lot objected to Sodom’s sins,
had he remained in it he would have perished with its perverted populace.
Similarly, for the sake of spiritual survival, every Christian who objects to the
errors in his “home” congregation should leave it. We all need to be in a
congregation that constantly urges us to honor God’s Word in everything we do.
We need to hear error identified and refuted. These things will help us to serve
Christ faithfully and reach Heaven at last. In a liberal church, not only are none
of these found, but their opposites abound.
• To Save One’s Children: Parents of small children who remain in an apostate
congregation are very unwise and short-sighted. They (especially fathers) have
the responsibility to nurture their children “in the chastening and admonition of
the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Parents who stay in a liberal congregation fail in this duty,
even if they teach their children correctly and provide a good example at home.
Their influence will likely not be able to counteract the acceptance of “social”
drinking, dancing, unscriptural marriages, theistic evolution, instrumental music
in worship, fellowship with the denominations, worship innovations, and such
like. Also, the “peer pressure” of other children will work against the parents. Lot
lost at least two daughters and their families in Sodom’s destruction. Although
he urged, “Up, get you out of this place,” they had been so influenced by their
surroundings that they refused his plea (Gen. 19:12–14). Lot sacrificed them by
foolishly rearing them in Sodom. Some today are as obstinate as Lot — even if it
means the loss of their children to error. They, as Lot did, continue to linger
when they should have fled (vv. 15–16).
Otherwise good parents in liberal churches may at home point out the errors the
children are encountering in “Bible” classes and worship assemblies, but
eventually those children will figure out that their parents are being hypocritical
to stay in such a church. If parents want their children to grow up with any
semblance of strong convictions in the Truth, they dare not linger in a liberal
congregation.
Excuses, Excuses
In spite of the numerous compelling reasons why Truth-loving brethren should
have nothing to do with an apostate religious body, a large number of them
continue to do so, offering various excuses.
• We Can Help: “We don’t agree with what’s going on, but we hope we can
correct these things by staying.” Admittedly, some congregations have not
reached the “point of no return” in their digression. In such cases, those who
are zealous for the Truth should stay and “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude
3). However, when congregational leaders have obviously succumbed to
liberalism, it is practically impossible to reclaim them. To them, those who
criticize erroneous doctrine or practice are just pesky “trouble makers.”
Most of the larger urban congregations are either well on their way to, or have
reached, the “point of no return” doctrinally. Their leaders have taken a leftward
course. As the consuming flame draws the moth, so the “broad way” that ends in
destruction has enticed them (Mat. 7:13). They have money, power, and worldly
ambition, and they roll over any who get in their way. One is terribly naive who
believes that he can redirect them. To stay with them is to contribute to tearing
down that which the Lord wants us to build. In doing so one only wastes effort,
time, influence, and money on a lost cause—and will lose his soul in the
bargain. The Lord’s command concerning hardened apostate religious leaders is:
“Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both
shall fall into a pit” (15:14).
• Family and Friends: “Although I don’t approve of this congregation, I can’t
leave my kindred and best friends.” We should all possess “natural affection”
(Rom. 1:31). However, all other affections must be secondary to one’s affection
for the Christ and His Word (Mat. 6:24, 33; 10:34–36; 22:36–37). We correctly
appeal to members of denominations to come out of those sinful institutions,
even if it means sacrificing family and friends. It is no less appropriate to appeal
to brethren whose family ties and friendships bind them to digressive “churches
of Christ.”
• Too Much Invested: “I have been a member of this congregation for years, and
I have invested too much money and time to walk away from it.” It is painful to
lose investments, but it is sometimes necessary. Spiritual issues far outweigh
mere material ones. That one is so concerned over money or time is a “dead
giveaway” that the priceless treasure of Truth and one’s eternal destiny are not
one’s priorities (Mat. 6:21). One whose house is in the path of a raging flood is a
fool if he tells would-be rescuers he has invested too much time and money in it
to leave. In both cases, these folk have already lost their “investments” whether
they go or stay. The member of the liberal church has lost his “investments,” and
by remaining in it, he compounds those losses. He had better be concerned with
the far greater loss of his soul if he continues to support error and sin (Mat. 5:
30; 16:26; 2 John 9–11).
Some cannot bear to leave behind the building their money and/or hands helped
to build. A brother once asked me what he should do about the liberalism in the
church of which he was a member, which had earned its well-deserved reputation
over several years. He told me many sad details about their departures. I knew
he had at one time been an elder there, but he told me he had resigned some
time earlier because his objections were repeatedly ignored. I had assumed he
agreed with the liberalism because he had continued to stay there. When I asked
why he stayed he said that he (and some others) did not want to “give up” the
building. He failed to comprehend that the liberals long before (as his
resignation indicated). In such cases, it is folly to think that one is “saving the
building” by staying.
A building is only a building. It can be replaced, but a soul that stays in a
digressive church may be lost and never recovered—for the Truth or for eternity.
As I would unhesitatingly urge a man to flee his fire-engulfed house as a lost
cause, so do I counsel brethren who remain in liberal-infested churches in their
vain attempt to “save the building.”
• Fear of Division: “I don’t approve of the corruptions and innovations I see in
this congregation, but I might cause division if I leave.” One should be cautious
and concerned about division, but one dare not favor a false “peace” or “unity”
above Truth and godliness. Liberals have falsely accused many a devoted saint
of “causing division” when all they did was stand for the Truth and object to
unauthorized doctrines or deeds. I confess to encouraging division when the
Truth is at stake. Our Lord is “the Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6), but He rules with a
“sword” that is often divisive (Mat. 10:34; Luke 12:51–52; Eph. 6:17). When some
in a congregation refuse to submit to God’s Word and others are determined to
do so, division is inevitable. The Lord anticipated such divisions, and they have
His blessing (1 Cor. 11:19). Those who have abandoned the Truth are the culprits
in such cases, regardless of accusations to the contrary. Brethren should not let
the “church divider” charge intimidate them.
[WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK]