WILL THE CHURCH SURVIVE?

I wrote this for the Ensign in 1985. It reflects the problems in the church at that time. Christ's One Spiritual Church is indestructible! But local churches may lose their candlestick (Ephesus, Rev. 2:5).

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV)

What Peter wrote was true even as he was writing. The destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) followed shortly. God is prepared to judge His own people more severely than others. Compare James 3:1,13-14; 4:17; Ezekiel 9:6; Jeremiah 25:29. The perseverance of the church involves the promise of God's judgment on the church and its leaders for their unfaithfulness.

"The time will come when many people will gather around and say, 'Lord, Oh Lord, we sure did preach in Your name, didn't we? And in Your name we sure gave the devil a run for his money, didn't we?' We did all kinds of stunts and gimmicks in Your name, didn't we?' Then I'll declare right in front of everybody, 'I've never known you. Get away from Me, you wicked religious racketeers' (Matt. 7:21-23 Jordan's Paraphrase). [Note He is not talking to denominations.] HOW can our Lord say such things to good, faithful brethren who have devoted their lives to Him? The apostle Paul gives the answer in Romans 10:1-4; 2 Cor. 3:1-6. There is a way that seems so right, but it turns one away from the Spirit of God. Jesus warned about the leaven of the Pharisees. "Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matt. 16:12 Compare Matt. 15:1-9.

Brother Guy N. Woods showed the spirit of a prophet when he wrote in the Gospel Advocate, 10-4-1979, about negativism in the non-institutional group. "It is this disposition which has led many churches, once great and active congregations, to wither on the vine. People cannot subsist on a diet of negativism and maintain robust spiritual life. We predicted long ago that just this result would follow. It is true that rubbish must be cleared away before a building can be erected, but no one ever built a house with a 'crowbar.'"

"The Churches of Christ are a dying institution." Respected brothers have said this. Now the specter of "Collinsville" has come to haunt us. Why? IF GOD WERE NOT ALLOWING IT, IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. If God is judging "our brotherhood," it is a mistake to look for minor improvement and call them signs of hope. Yes, the judgment itself is a sign of hope - a sign of God's continuing love for His people (compare Isaiah 54:7-10). And if God is in fact judging us, the only way to respond is for "our brotherhood and its leaders" to repent where needed and to return to faithfulness in Him. If the church perseveres in faithfulness it will do so because of God!

Recent events at Collinsville and similar locations have raised some important questions which demand Bible answers (compare 1 Cor. 2:11-16). How far does the responsibility of elders extend? What is the relationship of a "local congregation" to the "church" which Jesus built? Do we understand a congregation to be a "gathered congregation" (an independent group of Christians banded together for work and worship) or a "parochial congregation (an integral part of the total brotherhood - similar to an individual Sears store). Did Campbell, Stone, etc., have the right to resign from various Churches and Associations to avoid the effect of censure? Each of these raises additional questions.

Yes, we know what Christ said. The "gates of hell/powers of death" will not overcome His "one spiritual church." There will be Christians waiting when Christ returns (1 Thess. 4:15-17). But congregations may have their candlestick / lampstands withdrawn (Rev. 2:4-5). Congregations which do not grow through conversions must die through attrition (compare Matt. 25:29).

We may react to this crisis in different ways. The "Triumphalist view" says in effect, that because of the divine promises nothing in the "Churches of Christ" can go seriously wrong. This view is not content to defend "church authority," but feels obligated to defend almost everything the "church" does - to the point that it becomes impossible to admit mistakes or weaknesses. No brakes may be applied nor any changes made in the direction of travel.

Another way views the perfect Christ, "Himself holy, innocent, pure, undefiled, etc.," (Heb. 7:26). He "knew" nothing of sin (2 Cor. 5:21). He came to be God's Lamb to take away the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17). But the "church," embracing sinners in its bosom (compare Jesus' parables of the fish net, wheat and tares, etc.) - is simultaneously holy and always in need to be purified. The church The church must always and forever pursue the path of repentance and renewal. The steering wheel must be turned first this way and then that to keep moving within the lane of travel.

150 years ago, the undivided movement was growing rapidly. Walter Scott alone was baptizing around 1000 each year. The sectarian spirit was being driven out, and freedom was the word of the day. Christians were happy! They had found the "pearl of great price"! The Resurrection Gospel was proclaimed. Grace and unity were favorite themes. When the "War Between the States" ended, the "Restoration" was the fourth largest religious group in the USA. God was blessing us!

God will move His people where He wants them to be at whatever cost! "Our brotherhood" has a serious crisis. It is a crisis of love and hope, a crisis of unfaithfulness to the teaching and example of Christ. Compare Isaiah chapter 61.

PS: New challenges come and go.  Little is accomplished by continuing to fight battles of the past.  But Satan always tries to steal our hope and joy.  Yet God is still at work in our world, often in ways we cannot see.  We pray for a "New Pentecost" and things in the spirit (Spirit) of the Cane Ridge Revival of 1801.

"...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17