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Things Spoken Against The Church
Being a Christian is not always easy. Not everyone has been or is now sympathetic with New Testament Christianity. Acts 28:16-22, "And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together; and when they were come together he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I have ought to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you; because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came." People really do not mind narrowness, except in religion that runs contrary to what they want. We go to the doctor and he prescribes a medicine. We take it to the druggist to have it filled, and we want it just like the doctor ordered, without addition or subtraction. We do not call either the doctor or the druggist narrow when they do what is required, no more and no less. We dare our business documents with a specific and certain date. Is that narrow? We dial a series of numbers on the telephone and if we miss one number and get a wrong number we do not accuse the telephone company of being narrow.
Some of the principles and specifics of Christianity are too narrow for some. That Christ is the only Savior is too narrow for many (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). That there is one church bothers many (Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:4,5). That there are things we must do and things from which we are to abstain seems too narrow to those who want their own sinful way rather than God's way. Some think it strange (Acts 17:18) that we live a "peculiar" life (Titus 2:14). Truth Is always too narrow to those who want something else But it is the truth that shall make us free (John 8:32). Error is not as good as truth. What many do not realize is that when the church follows the way God has revealed in His Word, calling that way narrow in a derogatory sense is calling God too narrow.
Too Much On Baptism
The church is criticized for "overemphasizing baptism." We wonder if it is really possible to overemphasize anything God has taught. We might under emphasize what , but can we really overemphasize His Word or any part of it? Let us suggest that what some call "overemphasizing" is really their reaction to their under emphasizing, When talking to a Baptist who was critical in the way, I responded, "At least we do not name ourselves after it." Baptism is a command of God. Please look up the passages for yourself if you have any doubt of this (Acts 10:47,48; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38). Baptism puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:27: Romans 63,4). All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3); there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1); salvation is in Christ (II Timothy 2:10). How can you overemphasize what God has made necessary to have these blessings? Regardless of the doctrines of men, baptism saves (I Peter 3:21). We reach His blood being baptized into His death where His blood was shed (Romans 6:3,4). How does one make too much of all of that? The real reason for the criticism against the teaching what the Bible teaches on baptism is because most denominations will not teach what the Bible teaches. Baptism "for the remission of sins" is unpopular because it clashes with the human creeds and disciplines. To teach what the Scripture teaches is mandatory, not optional.
Intolerant
Some charge that the church is intolerant of others. To some, if you even believe there is such a thing as right and wrong, you are considered intolerant. Many confuse tolerance with compromise and indulgence. Truth is not ours to compromise. Sin is not ours to ignore. Some think others are intolerant if they do not accept whatever someone else thinks. Strange, how those who charge the church with being intolerant because we do not accept whatever they believe but do not consider themselves intolerant when they reject what we believe. Tolerance means to permit to exist. God, in this sense, is tolerant of sin in that He allows it to exist. But He does not approve of it. People can sin all they want, but not without eventually giving an account for what they say and do. We grant all people the right to believe and practice whatever they want, so long as it does not prevent others from doing so. But we must insist that Jesus said we are either for Him or against Him, and there is no middle ground of neutrality. We are not permitted to do whatever we want with equal blessing and benefit. With some the only way to be wrong is to contend that there is a way that is right. The church has the obligation to be the "pillar and ground of the truth" and "preach the word" without addition or subtraction. If that is intolerance, then God is the One to blame because such is His command.
No Heart
Some charge that the church denies what they call "heart-felt religion." So what? The church does not teach "experience, emotions, something better felt than told, direct operation of the Holy Spirit, still small voices, etc." The Bible does not teach that is the way God leads and guides us today. The church teaches the truth about the heart and how it purposes, believe, despises, loves, obeys, and can even be hardened. The heart thinks, determines, and many other things which are not expedient to state now. But the Bible does not teach feelings above revealed faith that is created by the Word. The church teaches conversion, not convulsion. One who knows what the Bible teaches about the heart would never denounce the church about "heart-felt" religion.
Out Of Date
How many times have we heard that the church of Christ is old-fashioned. This is actually a compliment even though it is meant as a criticism. Far better to be old-fashioned and right before God than new-fashioned and be wrong. The church is not in the business of trying to keep up with the times anyway. Its mission is to change the sinfulness of the times and bring mankind into harmony with his Creator. The trouble is that the times are not keeping up with God. We do not need to abandon first century faith but we need to put it into practice. it is relevant for every age if only people knew more about it and understood it. The true church is not modernist, denying the miraculous as recorded in Scripture, denying the Deity of Christ, His virgin birth, resurrection, etc. If that is what it takes to not be old-fashioned, then we can pray we always remain old-fashioned. It is a shame that there are those who claim to follow Jesus who are constantly finding fault with the "old paths" and trying to inject their "new wisdom" into the religion of Christ. The church is not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:1). If it takes being old-fashioned to keep in step with the Son of God, then that is what the world needs. We sure cannot say much by way of congratulations to those who have left Him and followed their own way or the way that may be new, but not true. What good can such people ever do? They only make matters worse.
Hypocritical
"But there are hypocrites in the church," some complain. That is right. There are. Even the Lord has His Judas. But what has that got to do with the perfect will of God? There is a divine side to the church which cannot be improved. There is the human side that has its weaknesses and faults. Hypocrites have no hope of heaven. They only deceive themselves. But that is no criticism against the way of the Lord everyone must follow. Can we blame God because somebody who claims to follow Him really does not? All error is not hypocrisy. Sometimes it is weakness, lack of growth, misunderstanding and confusion. But there is pretense, sham, show, hypocrisy. None who knows what is going on would dare deny it. But who thinks they are going to heaven because somebody who claims to be a Christian fails in his duty? We are not followers of men anyway, but of Christ. Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1) Christ is our example (I Peter 1:21), not some hypocrite. The church can justly be criticized when it allows hypocrisy to go uncorrected. This is a fault of the church in our day: namely the failure to discipline those who bring reproach on the church and its Founder.
Nobody But You"
One of the most mentioned things spoken against the church of Christ is, "You do not think anybody is going to heaven but you." If the Bible tells the truth, only those who do God's will are going to heaven, and being faithful servants of His in His one church is what He teaches. If I did not believe being a member of the church of Christ was essential to salvation, I would work for its cessation dud line up with somebody else fur the sake of togetherness. Why exist if it is unnecessary to please God? The church is the body of Christ, and only those in the body are going to be saved Christ is the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23) The church is God's kingdom and only those in that kingdom will be delivered to the Father (I Corinthians 15:24). The church is God's family (I Timothy 3:15) and is composed of the sons and daughters of God Are we to think that children of the devil are going to be saved as they are? Many fail to understand what the church is. They have been so schooled in demoninationalism they find if difficult to grasp the New Testament revelation about the church. There is no hope outside of Christ. Being in the church is being in Christ because the church is His body. The criticism designed to make others prejudiced against the church is the fruit of ignorance and possibly an attempt to make the critic seem more loving and gracious than those in the Lord's church. The truth is, the critic. does not understand the church and does harm against the will of Christ. He wants what he wants and if the way of Jesus is not that he will try to find fault with those who agree with Jesus. We have only briefly mentioned a few of many things people in and out of religion say against the church Jesus founded.
So What?
But what of that? Men have seldom really been enthusiastic about the way of God. Most have, do now, and probably will continue to be rebellious against what He teaches in His Word. But that does not change anything about the truth. The thief hates the teaching against stealing. The adulterer does not like teaching that condemns adultery. The denominationalist despises the teaching of the Bible on baptism and the one church. Sprinklers detest immersion. The church organist will not hear to just singing. The homosexual cannot abide by moral teaching. The murderer scoffs against the prohibition of that crime. The atheist rebels against the existence of God. So what else is new? Criticism against those who make up the church may often be justified because we tail to live up to the standard of Jesus Christ. But when anybody upholds the truth of God's Word, all the criticism in the world amounts to naught as far as altering that truth. It is the truth by which each one shall be judged. We ought to respect it.