| December 5, 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 32
|
[Ed. Note: This article was published in 1975 in Messenger of Truth, bulletin of the Imhoff Ave. church in Port Arthur, Texas. It was reprinted in Guardian of Truth, July, 1993. Its message is timeless. CRJ]
A few days ago a long-time friend and faithful brother in the Lord phoned to talk with me as he passed near Port Arthur in his work. He phoned to see how the family and I were doing, to tell me of his work in a new congregation begun about two years ago, and to ask my advice.
He lives in a small town, about 6,000 population, near a large metropolitan area, and for years he and his family drove into the city to worship, about 35-40 miles round trip. Desiring to begin a faithful, scriptural church in his own community (there was already a very liberal-modernistic church of Christ in the town), he consulted with several other families from different congregations who were within driving distance of his community, and they agreed together to begin a "faithful" church in that community. They set the date, met in the city hall, and began with thirty-seven people present and shortly grew in number to fifty or more, had a contribution of about $275 per week, bought a lot on which to build a meetinghouse, and the future looked bright. Two or three were baptized, several confessed neglect, and all prospects were for a good work, a good church, and steady growth.
Then it began. As the men took turns preaching at the worship hours and teaching the classes, their opinions began to be expressed, resulting in disagreements, strife and strained relationships. One brother preached on the Lord's supper, proving (?) how sinful it is to have and to take the Lord's supper on Sunday evening, that this evening supper is a "second supper," and that if it is after 6 p.m., it is in reality Monday because the Jewish days began at sunset. Brethren tried to teach him the truth but when they would not accept his opinion, he pronounced his anathemas upon them and left -- to join himself to the liberal church in town where they also have the Lord's supper on Sunday evening!
Another brother in the congregation preached on the sinfulness of the Bible college (a college where the Bible is daily taught in classes) and how sinful it is for parents to permit and pay for their child to attend such a school. (One family in the church has a daughter in Florida College, Tampa, Florida.) Discussion with the brother by this family and other brethren availed not, and even though Florida College is not connected with any congregation, has never taken a contribution from a church and has no intention of doing so, the brother who preached his opinion still insists the college is sinful and this family is committing sin!
And two brethren strongly insist it is sinful to have a wedding or funeral in the meetinghouse, although they have no meetinghouse, no one has died, and no one has gotten married. And another young man has preached the past two holiday seasons how sinful it is for the other brethren to give gifts to loved ones, decorate a tree or have a family gathering during the holidays.
My friend concluded in about these words: We have thirty now meeting, hobbyism reigns, relations are strained, there is little love for each other, every opinion is a matter of faith to some, brethren are suspicious of each other, and associate very little with one another. We began so well but have gotten crossed up over a bunch of opinions.
This is a sad, tragic but not an isolated case by any means. Many conservative (?) churches are majoring in minors, pushing opinions as matters of faith and gospel, resulting in divided churches, alienated brethren and hindrances to spiritual growth. Many churches and preachers have little influence for good because of extremism. Brethren pride themselves on "standing for the truth" when the truth of God in the New Testament says nothing about the opinions they hold so dear as they make these opinions matters of faith and conscience within themselves. Then they bind these "matters of faith" on others, wanting their consciences to be everyone else's guide.
Hobbyism and opinionism have ever been the bane of the Lord's work. The missionary society and mechanical instruments in worship hobbies led to division and strife over one hundred years ago, resulting in the Christian Church. In our generation, opinions and hobbies over institutions supported by churches and unscriptural centralized cooperation between churches has resulted in a new sect of liberal-modernistic churches, denominational in attitude and practice, but still calling themselves churches of Christ. On the other hand, many brethren and churches who opposed those innovations of liberalism, have gone or are going to opposite extremes, making all kinds of opinions matters of faith and doctrine. There are the old ones which have ever been with us, such as: sinful to use printed literature; sinful for women to teach a class of children or women; sinful to have Bible classes for different age groups; sinful to have a located preacher; sinful to cut a woman's hair or to wear make-up; sinful for a woman to worship without an artificial covering on her head; sinful for a Christian to vote or have anything to do in or with civil government. Then some of the new ones going around: sinful to sing an invitation song; sinful to have Sunday night communion; sinful to give contribution by check; sinful to put the name "Church of Christ" outside the meetinghouse (it MUST be "Church of Christ Meets Here"); sinful to send a child to Florida College, etc.
When the world (and the church) so desperately needs good sound gospel preaching, godly living and strong, loving churches, we are giving them opinions, strife and ill-will. Some of us may just go to hell along with the world for such ungodliness if we do not repent.
--Bill Cavender
In Matt. 12:46-50, someone said to Jesus, “’Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said... ‘Who are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’”
There are at least three points we want to make from this passage. First, Jesus did not consider His mother to be basically different from any other person who seeks to do the will of God. It should be noted that Jesus had proper respect for His mother. While He was a child, He was obedient to her, Luke 2:51-52. After He became a man He continued to take special interest in matters of concern to her, John 2:3-11. As He was dying on the cross, He made special provision for her to be cared for in His absence, John 19:26-27. But He put the will of His heavenly Father above that of His earthly mother.
Second, note that Jesus had some earthly brothers. Of course they were not full brothers, but only half brothers. They were not conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit as Jesus was, but apparently were sons of Joseph as well as sons of Mary. One large religious body has long insisted that Mary the mother of Jesus never had any children in addition to Jesus -- that she remained a virgin perpetually. The Bible clearly does not teach that concept! The Bible says that Jesus was her FIRSTBORN son, Matt. 1:25, not her ONLY son. Later she gave birth to the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Further, the Bible says Joseph “did not KNOW her TILL she had brought forth her FIRST-BORN” son, (Matt. 1:25). The word “know” is used in the sense of marital relations. Joseph certainly was acquainted with Mary before Jesus was born -- but he did not have marital relations with her until after her first-born or oldest son was born. Later he did know her, and she gave birth to James, Joses, Simon, and Jude, and “all” his sisters, Matt. 13:55-56; Mark 6:3.
Finally, and most importantly, Jesus noted that spiritual relationships take precedence over fleshly relationships. At the time of our text, Jesus’ fleshly brothers did not accept Him as the Christ, John 7:3-5. Happily, after His resurrection, they did come to believe in Him, and two of them even wrote books of the New Testament -- the books of James and Jude. But while His own flesh and blood were rejecting Him, He had a much closer relationship with those who were His spiritual brethren, thus He said of His disciples, “Here are My brothers!” It is Christ’s spiritual brothers who become joint heirs in the heavenly inheritance, Rom. 8:13-17.
--CRJ