In This Issue

• THE TESTIMONY OF MOSES

• GRACELESS NANCY GRACE ROAST CHURCHES OF CHRIST - HOW WILL WE RESPOND?

• MORE INFORMATION...

THE TESTIMONY OF MOSES

Jesus said to unbelieving Jews of His day, “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:43-47).

To come “in [the] Father’s name” was to come by God’s authority. Jesus had shown that He had Divine approval by the miracles He worked, John 3:2. Once God had even acknowledged Him orally, Matt. 3:17, yet most of the religious elite rejected Him. On the other hand, they were openly receptive to the teachings of their Rabbis, who had no authority, and to the “traditions of the elders,” Matt. 15:6. Basically, they were all equals, and they sought and received “honor” from one another. They should have been more concerned with seeking the honor that comes from God.

Jesus saw no need to accuse them before the Father – they already stood guilty by the writings of Moses whom they claimed to greatly honor. Jesus said “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” Moses had written about a “Seed of woman” who would crush the devil’s head, Gen. 3:15. He had written of a “Seed of Abraham” through whom God would bless all nations, Gen. 22:18. He had written of a descendant of Jacob who would hold the scepter, a symbol of regal authority, Gen. 49:10. (The word “Shiloh” seems to come from a root meaning “Peace”). Then in Deut. 18:18-22 Moses had clearly prophesied of the Messiah to whom all must give heed.

If the Jews of Jesus’ day had truly believed Moses, they would have recognized and believed Jesus. If those in our day who claim to believe Jesus, speak disparagingly of Moses, they do not really believe Jesus either, John 5:47. Both Moses and Jesus testify to the same great truth of Jesus as the Christ and the one to whom all must give heed.

– Clarence R. Johnson

GRACELESS NANCY GRACE ROASTS CHURCHES OF CHRIST - HOW WILL WE RESPOND?

If you have ever wondered how graceless Nancy Grace can be, and you were watching her recent programs on CNN, your curiosity has now disappeared. In her tough prosecutor style, she is all over the Mary Winkler case. It is alleged that Mary Winkler shot and killed her husband, Matthew Winkler, who was the preacher for the 4th Street Church of Christ in Selmer, Tennessee. (I knew of Wendell Winkler, the grandfather now deceased, and I used some of his Bible class material 25 years ago. I knew of Dan and Matthew, but didn’t know them personally. The Winkler name has been prominent among the churches those men have worked with.)

I have nothing to offer about why this happened. I am not qualified to discuss any legal theory and I am strongly disinclined to join the popular, impulsive speculation. The fact that this happened to a couple in a church of Christ does not obligate me to say anything about the case.

My present concern is to respond to the graceless ignorance, arrogance and recklessness of CNN’s Justice Expert, who is presiding over a roast of the churches of Christ. Especially, to recommend how we respond.

First, a few samples for those who didn’t see the broadcast:

GRACE: “…many people have suggested the Church of Christ is a cult.”

PASTOR TOM RUKALA, BAPTIST PASTOR: “…the Church of Christ is a relatively new church. It was started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell. And it’s, unfortunately, a very legalistic sect, and they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics. They claim that they are the only ones going to heaven, and all other people are condemned to hell…they claim that if you’re not baptized by one of their ministers, that you’re doomed to hell...it kind of is a borderline cult … in the sense of the exclusivism, the attitude that they are the only ones who know the truth. The tactics that they use are sometimes just – not only un-biblical but unethical, and they can be very ungracious, unfortunately…”

GRACE: “Is the Church of Christ a cult? Is it cult-like? Did that play into this murder in any way? Let’s take a look. Single leader, cult-like qualities, trying to isolate members, members happy and enthusiastic (I don’t think that’s a bad thing) – experimental rather than logical, hide what they teach, say they’re the only true group.”

DR. RUBEL SHELLY: “It [Church of Christ] certainly doesn’t fit the criteria you just gave…” 

By the way, have you noticed how polite, respectful and cautious the media is about the religion of Islam? The facts are men acting in the name of that religion have made murder their life’s work. Nevertheless, it is politically incorrect to comment negatively regarding the Islamic religion. That extremely respectful approach toward Islam is in contrast to the rude, speculative persecution of people who are members of churches of Christ. In this case, we have one preacher’s wife charged with murder, and the door is open to say anything you want against the churches of Christ.

I’m looking at over 30 pages of transcripts from Nancy Grace alone, plus printouts from numerous blogs across the internet. I’m not going to try to exhaustively respond to every misrepresentation. I will bring up four matters we might well keep in mind as the news and talk continue, and as we consider how to react.

1. The world (including the media) considers “The Church of Christ” and uses that label without any biblical perspective at all. When they hear about people who are members of “The Church of Christ,” and when they observe buildings with that name on the sign, they see just another denomination. The common assumption is we are much like the Baptist church and other churches. We just have a different name and different doctrines and have no (instrumental) music. This is the popular perception. Media reporters and writers refer to Matthew Winkler as a “pastor,” the members as “congregants” or “parishioners,” and one news program interviewed “THE” deacon of the church. Geraldo Rivera told Bill O’Rielly that Winkler was an up-and-coming popular, southern Pentecostal preacher! When the world and the media talk about “The Church of Christ,” they speak as they would of any other denomination. It becomes our challenge to tell our friends and neighbors about the Lord’s church, as described in the New Testament. And if we are inclined to simply tell people that we are members of “The Church of Christ,” guess what they will assume? Our responses to error and our teaching initiatives should take people to the text of Scripture, to show them the truth about the gospel of Christ and the Lord’s church. Our friends and neighbors will never be clear about who we are until we take them to the Scriptures. (That is, assuming we are the people described there!)

2. All of the misinformation should be countered by Scripture. Panelists interviewed by Nancy Grace said: “…a relatively new church … started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell … a very legalistic sect … they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics...” Instead of questioning the credentials of the panelists (easy to do) and prove that we are not guilty, it would be better to take people directly to the Scriptures. People who are not Christians will not become Christians because we have proved our critics are wrong about us! Don’t let the debate center in that they are wrong about us, though they are. Genuine conversion doesn’t take place because we have answered our critics. We must take people – not to a group, but to the Savior. Don’t get stuck on self-defense; you can easily become sectarian. Don’t let the teaching agenda be driven by the ignorant critics. Just open the Bible and show your friends what the Lord has done and said. You may argue against your critics and prove you are not guilty of their charges. Fine. But conversion requires a knowledge of and belief in the Savior, with the activity of obedience to Him.

3. Don’t be pulled into the speculation. There is powerful temptation, when high-profile crimes are reported, to join in with the speculation. That kind of impulse ought to be held in check by the Lord’s people. We provide no light for anyone when we offer up our guess. We may unintentionally slander or hurt someone who is a party to the case. We may supply ammunition to those who seek to use the event to demean members of the church. We have no obligation to join in the speculation. The teaching of the Bible against gossip should govern us. (See Prov. 16:28; Matt. 12:36,37). Speculation may be natural and tempting, but can be damaging and of no value in edifying anyone. One of the elements of discipleship is, refusing to be pulled into what everybody else is doing and talking about (Matt. 26:41).

4. Use this opportunity to emphasize the autonomy of the local church. Unless you are a member of the 4th Street Church of Christ in Selmer, you have no organizational connection to those people. Perhaps they
are similar to you in some of their background and practices. But the Lord’s church is not composed of congregations; it is composed of people. While those people form local groups or teams to do the Lord’s work, the local churches are autonomous; independent (no organizational structure ties church to church).

The world doesn’t understand this. We may have to affirm it. We can simply tell people that we are not members of that church in Tennessee. We cannot speak about their internal dynamics, their organization, their teaching, practice nor the relationship of the preacher with his wife and children. The fact that their sign reads the same as ours (“church of Christ”) doesn’t mean we are like them, answerable for them or implicated in anything they do.

Could it be, we have here a marvelous teaching opportunity? “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).

- Warren E. Berkley, Wonsley Worker, Austin, TX

MORE INFORMATION...