CFTF-1978

177 Pages·2007·20.77 MB·English

by  Ira Y. Rice

Volume IX, 1978
Battle for Truth Among Churches
o f Christ Continues As We Head
into Our Ninth Year
Ira Y. Rice. Jr.
Paul recounts in Galatians 2 how "false brethren Mercury News, of San Jose, California-showing the
(were) unawares brought in . . . to whom we gave church that Reynolds succeeded in destroying as a
place b2 subjection, no, not for an hour; that the church of Christ while he was their preacher-the
truth o the gospel mi %t continue with you." Blaney Avenue church of Christ of CuP e rtino, Cali-
As Contending for t Faith now heads into our fornia-no longer even calls itself such. Note it now
ninth year of continuous publication, we are aston- refers to itself as "BLANEY AVENUE CHRISTIAN
ished more than ever how many similar false brethren COMMUNITY' and describes itself not as the "one
have arisen among us-and how few of our brethren faith of Ephesians 43; but "Truly Inter-Faith7'-
XI
generallr , (including many elders and preachers) seem and the most naive ro among us surely must know
to be a le even to reco% n ize them for what they what that means! (T s
are-much less are "able y sound doctrine both to to us by the Max Crumleys, a
exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9) from San Jose, who also
Mouths Must Be Stopped work from time to time.)
Nevertheless, as Paul further declares (Titus 1: 10- Editor Is Personally Acquainted in Dallas
11) concerning such "u~lruly and vain talkers and Back to the Dallas Morning News item, your editor
deceivers", their "mouths must be stopped" for they feels peculiarly qualified to comment personally on
"subvert whole houses, teaching things which they this one, because the now so-called Southwest Church
. . ."
ought not "Wherefore," he instructs further, of Christ, where Jim Reynolds now reaches, is the
"rebuke them sharply, tha.t t.h .e y may be sound in the same old Hampton Place church of Ck 'n st, which was
faith; not giving heed to fables, and command- the original sponsoring church that sent my family
ments of men, that turn from the truth." (Verses 13 and me to Singapore m 1955-and was our sponsor
and 14). for more than 13 years!
Just within the past 30 days, alert brethren have I tried my best to alert the elders at Hampton
sent documentary evidence from all over the brother- Place, as far back as 1967 and even before, that the
hood, which indicates that, if anything, these evil church there was heading into Liberalism-but only
men are waxing "worse and worse" instead of cor- one of them (G. 0.R eynolds) would listen. Because
recting their errors. For example, on Page 3 of this of my determination to bring out Axe on the Root-
Y,
7o u will note an article from the Se tember Volume 11, they fired me one month, in 1967; hired
i1s0s,u e1,9 7 Dallas Morning News, mailed in y Dub me back one month later; then, when I saw they
McClish, minister to the church at Granbury, Texas still refused warning against Liberalism, I resigned
(Perry B. Cotham also favored us with a copy), de- the month after that.
scribing Jim Reynolds as a "maverick pastor" leading
Once Headed Away. No Turning Back
a congregation of "church defectors". Also, on Page Talk about a sickening sensation! When I remem-
4 (inset) you will note a clipping from the San Jose ber Hampton Place havlng approximately 300 mem-
(Continued on Page 3)
Page 2
WHAT IS IT WITH SOME BRETHREN
WHO WILL NOT BE CONVINCED
REGARDLESS OF THE EVIDENCE!
That we cannot really have a restoration of New
Testament Christianity-with the unity for which our
souls yearn-without all of us going back to a "thus
saith the Lord" and uniting upon it would appear
to be self-evident. And for misguided-however wcll-
Volume IX, No. 1 January/ 1978
intentioned-brethren to be left free to teach false
doctrines, contrary to the word of God, with no effort
on our part to stop them, is just as surely to under-
EDITORLAL STAFF mine and destroy both the restoration and its unity
Tuck Andrem E. R. Harper as can be.
Linwood E. Bishop RP Hawk
Franldin Camp W. N. TaiAyn For the past dozen years or more, a deliberate
B. C. Carr Dan J e w effort has been made on the part of some to vitiate
W. F. CaC crL Archie W. Lu
winfrat pat M& the restoration movement with the evident intention,
William S. Cline Max R. Miller if possible, to destroy it from the earth. Those of
Bin Cos ~amPaa grim us who were alerted to the danger and conscious of
W.R.C Winston Tempte
Grog. sr. Ernest U~enyood what was being attempted in this regard have sounded
Dalton P. EUis Richard H. Wmcmger out the alarm, trying hard to head off this willful
apostasy while there still is time and opportunity
SUBSCI~~ORANT ES: to do any good.
Single Subscr~ption- $2 Per Year
Three Yeam, SS; Six YeafS St0 Is the Gospel Being Undermined-Or Is It Not?
You would have thought that anyone and everyone
Club Rate - Six Subscriptions, S 10 who really cared for the restoration movement would
have arisen as one man in defense of the ospel.
And a great many have, we are happy to say! bn the
BUNDLE RAT%S: other hand, we are astonished at the mind-set of
-
Moathly Pa issue St.sdi8g numbers of brethren, who, regardless of the mountain
BaUed QllPrterfy A* De1iV-Y
of evidence that has been arrayed before them, 1) sim-
S l
ply refuse to see that the truth of the %o spel is being
1s copies I $ 3 undermined, and 2) account every efense of the
25 Copisr S 4 gospel-however genuine-as nothing more than a
40 Copk $ 6
60 copia I $ 8 ersonal vendetta on the part of contenders for the
so cop+ I $10 faith against the false teachers.
lo-ocoper I $12 Rather than face up to the evidence and deal with
WHOLE CONGREGATION RATE it responsibly as they should have done, we have
(Any eorrg.o.tior, ckriring -00 8ntu ..ch been appalled to note certain well-known, highly-
f . m i l y i n I h . n b b r ~ a n e ~ ~
placed public leaders among us stooping to smear-
m J U r y l & t r ~ c @ m M n g m k d ~
0 0 ~ ~ , r r c r i n r 2 5 9 C ~ * m & M tactics against anyone who would call doctrinal viola-
acmbrapban . i.-e ,d WOLZC OME- tions to their attention. In one notable instance, for
GATM uvp.lnbhm&vmca
#t~mbd81.50pmhnriSy~.~ example, when our venerable, 81-year-old Foy E.
Wallace, Jr., sounded out a warning a ainst using
the hi kh ly questionable Revised Standar Version on
one o our college campuses formerly noted for its
pi- .88rsr ALL comtmAnoNs soundness, instead of answering his arguments, the
to administration attempted to smear his reputation bZ
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH gossiping about DeR ression-related debts, which, wit
. h-a OCAa BQx 26247 the assistance of C ristian friends, he had paid inf ull
Ihmghm, AkBosl35226 more than 40 years ago! Christian brethrend ' ust don't
treat one another the way they treate brother
Wallace!
Even though we 'ourselves have been threatened
with exposure of sins of our youth-long since cor-
CONTENWNGFORTHEFAlTHir
mom* (except DccaaLa) By Ira Y. rected, we simply refuse to be intimidated. That things
to embarrass us could be pointed out from former
days, settled at the time according to the scriptures.
we have no doubt. However, assuming that we were
guilty of every sin in the catalog, would this justify
others in teaching things-or upholding those who
teach them-that are inimical to the word of God?
Enclosing a clipping from the Dallas Morning News
(reproduced elsewhere in this issue), brother Dub BATTLE FOR TRUTH CONTINUES
McClish wrote, under date December 13, "In case (Continued from Page 1)
there are some who still feel that Jim (Reynolds) had bers when they sent me out, getting down to as few
been falsely accused on many of his liberal doctrinal as 35 members two or three years ago, it was heart-
positions, this should convince them, if the? ' are able breaking. Even worse, the young Liberal preacher
to be convinced . . . I hope that all is we1 with you they had by then had no better sense than to invite
and that you may continue in your good work . . ." a Pentecostal faction of I80 members, who had split
We hope and Lr ay that concerned brethren will not off from the Wynnewood Hills congregation, to come
be Ru t off by t ose whose motive appears to be only place membership at Hampton Place. This, in turn,
to urt and hinder but will weigh carefully the evi- put the Pentecostal element in the majority, which
dence Contending for the Faith continues to eventually led to the young Liberal preacher being
regarding the present apostasy and be actuateB itlhee rUeP- ousted-and now, who is ire aching for my old spon-
con~regation? T at's right-a Pentecostal
by.
-Ira Y. Rice, Jr., Editor er-Jim Reynolds!
Religion.
20 A Saturday, September 10,1977
Maverick nastor
leads congregation
o f church defectors
By BILL KENYON in a person's salvation through
Jim Reynolds, already known grace than works than is nor-
within the Churches of Christ as mally accepted within the de-
a maverick, has taken on what nomination.
may turn out to be one of his The Southwest congregation
toughest assignments in the pas- formed two years ago when a
torate of Southwest Church of schism that had been developing
Christ. in Wynnewood Hills Church of
The Oak Cliff congregation Chr~st errupted when the
was formed by defectors from church's elders issued a state-
another church, a move that, ment all church leaders and
joined with the beliefs of its teachers had to sign.
members, has caused it to lose
favor with many of its sister AMONG THE TOPICS ad-
churches. dressed in the statement was a
s
Reynolds, 35, the sob of condemnation of charismatic
Church of Christ minister, said practices. Generally, the people
he realized while in college the who stayed at Wynnewood say
Churches of Christ represented the charismatic issue was the
No= aur photo by Larry Reese. "a sad religion." main cause of concern, while
Jim Reynolds feels at home in his new church.
"It tended to be a perfectionist those who lefi felt the idea'of
and law-stressing group." Rey- such a statement violated <h€ e
nolds said. "Our emphasis (at principles of the church.
Southwest) is that one is saved in The rift even forced the
order to work. Otherwise, you get Wynnewood Hills' pulpit minis-
(EDITORIAL NOTE: If even the editors of the Dallas Morning into a compulsive, guilt-moti- ter, now City Councilman Don
News can see that brother Reynolds is a "maverick pastor" lead- vated religion." Hicks, to leave the church and
ing a congregation of "church defectors", pray tell why some of
our own brethren cannot seem to see it! Please keep in mind Among Reynolds' views that serve as minister at Southwest.
that it was Reynolds' utterances on the direct operation of the appear too liberal to many of his (Hicks has since left the ministry
Holy Spirit that Stanley Shipp endorsed publicly-and never yet fellow churchmen are his will- to concentrate on running his
has publicly retracted-at Abilene Christian College's World Mis- ingness to recognize the beliefs family's department store busi-
sions Workshop a few years ago. Also remember that ACC pro-
ceeded to have Reynolds and other such false teachers on their of other Christian denomina- ness.
program even though warned well in advance by reputable breth- tions, his acceptance of charis- The membership at Southwest
ren of their falseness. IYRJr.) matics and placing more weight has hovered around the 200 mark
Page 4
since its inception, said South- ter at the University of Texas at
'
west education minister Pat Austin, said he will no longer be
Thomas, a former youth minister invited to teach anywhere and
at Wynnewood Hills. that very few churches would
He said the church has at- allow him in their pulpit.
tracted a following of dissatisfied One of the fundamental beliefs
Church of Christ adherents from of the denomination that bothers
across the Dallas area, but also Reynolds and Thomas is its in-
has suffered a relatively heavy sistence that it is the "true
drain of members, which he said church" of Christianity, which
is often caused by pressure from precludes the validity of the be-.
JUNE
friends and relatives. liefs of otper denominations. SUNDAY. 19 6 p.m..
0
One of ths problems facing Reynolds, a graduate of Abi- (.$l.il
'BLANEY AVENUE
Southwest members is the con- lene Christian College and the
gregation's difficulty in estab ecumenical Graduate Theological CHRISTIAN.COMMUNITY'
lishing fellowship with other Union in Berkeley, Calif.. as- 10601 N.Maney ~iinue
.
CtiohFnue,r lclwohwehsis ochfh ipC hhinrai ss tth.n eo dsetnroumctiunrae- W-swuemoset w defr etohkmse apaganos t. oAHrreal ticena gamtto eSn ot ouc Sthhouwurcethhs-t I ,~(Uusep Werotlflen oEx;i't~ oaffl i2f8o0r.)r .i i,a' ~' , :,. .1-7 ,.. i L,<W,..- $.L#* 6 ..,. ,. ..2
above the local church, is a rela- because of the strong support for ( .informa1tl on/c.aTlrlu: ly I,n ter-Faith- :
tionship which more or less histypeof ntinistryfrpmtliecon-
recognizes the existence of a fel- fleptionandelders. .
low church as a true member of fPvq with the pdhe ,
the denomination. aaf3.hie plans to rqmaYn a mem-
When a church has problems ber 6f the denomination.
establishing fellowship, it can "Many people think the 1 /I
make it difficult* an individ- Chwb'of Christ is right @bouta Lindenwood Christian Chnrcb
ual member to transfer his mem- few things ahd don't want to go
bership to another church. tq mother denomination. They 11 11
just quit," Reynolds said. "That's 40 E. Parkway South
I I
M ADDITION TO Southwest's our reason for being. ~nvitesy ou to
I 11
difficulty in establishing fellow- "I love the Church of Christ. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
ship, Reynolds, a former instruc- it's my mother church. But I have
tor at the Church of Christ cen- a lovers' qqarrel with it."
I
11 P.M.
REYNOLDS NOT ONLY BELIEVES AND TEACHES "Candles, Carols, Communion"
1 I
DIRECT OPERATION OF HOLY SPIRIT, BUT Meditation by: Dr. Richard A. Batey
PRACTICES INTER-DENOMINATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
Worship With Us Christmas Day I
Not only does Jim Reynolds believe and teach the direct
operation of the Holy Spirit-miracles included-as belong- 11 A.M.
ing to New Testament Christians today, but, as described
SERMON TOPIC:
by the foregoing article from the Dallas Morning News,
"A TIME TO REMEMBERN
he further demonstrates a "willingness to recognize the
g R. C. ROY STAUFFER., Minister
beliefs of other Christian denominations" -as if the church
that Jesus built were just one more denomination among
many. Which, of course, it is not! White Station church of Christ, in Memphis, kept him
What makes such brethren so difficult to deal with is (Batey) on as teacher of one of their adult classes for
not that they are not false teachers, but that brethren several years. Even though Batey finally separated himself
who should know (and do) better simply refuse to recognize physically from White Station and started a new congre-
them for what they are and to deal with them as such. gation of some kind some time back, there was no hint
If, for instance, Abilene Christian College had accepted either from Scott or White Station that they no longer
and been actuated by the warning given them prior to consider themselves in fellowship with this heretic. As far
their inter-collegiate World Missions Workshop, in 1973, as is publicly known, both Scott and White Station still
and leA this false teacher off their roster of 'speakers, in look upon Batey as being in fellowship.
all probabilities he could have been stopped long before Not having-been publicly withdrawn from, thus, when
now. However, even until this day, nothing has appeared Batey participates with the Christian Church (see Linden-
of which we are aware to indicate that ACC (now ACU) wood Christian Church ad reproduced, this page, from the
does not continue to endorse him-and would use him again, Memphis Press-Scimitar for Saturday, December 24, 1977),
should the occasion arise. Such undermines-rather than how is anyone to know but that this represents the belief
builds-Christian unity! and practice of the churches of Christ! (This item as well
Scott-Batey Situation Similar in Memphis as the article reproduced at the top of Page 5, was brought
The upholding of Richard A. Batey by John Scott, now to our attention by brother W. A. Collins, of the Getwell
heading up the new Doctor of Ministry program at Harding congregation, in Memphis.) With such "Doctor of Minis-
Graduate School, in Memphis, continues to have a similar try" ideas as this evidently endorsed by John Scott, what
effect. Even after Batey was ousted from Harding Graduate can we expect from the end product of training Scott now
School as a false teacher, Scott and his fellow elders at is heading up at Harding Graduate School!
Page 5
Christmas Wasn't Celebrated Until 4th Century
churches, which follows the Patriarchate of Jedem,
In the book of Luke, the Bible says "shepherds were
By TIM SCHICK celebrates Christmas on January 6.
tending their flocks by night." This only happens during
PmSs-SdnriU SMI Wlila the spring, according m Batey. This is not because they still observe Epiphany as
Gifts under millions of Christmas trees will be opened As a result, spring was picked as the time of the Annun- Christmas, but because they still use the Julian calandar,
tomorrow as part of the celebration of the birth of Christ. ciation, the conception of Jesus, with his birth nine which is 13 days behind the Gregow calendar used by
but the Christmas holiday was not evenobsewed by earli- months later in December. the Western world, Viem said
est Christians, accordmg to religious leaders. The exact date has been attributed to the belief in par-
The celebration did not emerge until the 4th century, allelism by early Christians. Spring was looked on as the
according to Dr. Richard Batey, professor of rehgion at beginning of life, and therefore the start of creation.
Southwestern. The date was arbitrarily picked. The fourth day after the vernal equinox, the start of
Early Christians celebrated only Easter, and if is still spring, was thought to be the day the sun was created,
considered the more important of the two ChriW holi- a~~~rdtoh thge bibtical creation story, Batey .&d. Ac-
days. cording to the belief in parellelism, the redempaon of the
"For the early church, the focus was on the cross," world occurred on the same day.
Batey said. "The birth stories were added later to the Another explanation is that ~ lChyristi ans picked a
message of salvation $rough the cross." day when a pagan holiday was m progress so they would
'Ihe Rev. Nicholas Vlem, pastor of the Annunciation not be persecuted by Roman authorities.
Greek Orthodox .Church, said: "Death days were more The holiday, Sol Invictus, wtucb means the invincible
important than birthdays, that's why feast days mark a sun, was celebrated by the Romans on December 25, ac-
person's death." cording to Viem.
January 6 was the date of the first celebrations, accord- The choice of a day following the winter equinox was
ing to Vieron. Instead of marking the birth of Jesus, how- not accidental, according to Batey.
ever, it was a celebration of his baptism. "When people see the days geting shorter and cooler it --
The day, now known as Epiphany, was considered im- looks like darkness will prevail, but then it tums amund," notations whatsoever of significance to
portant because it marked the begmnug of Jesus' minis- he said.
try. "Any effort to set the time for the birth (of Jesus) is the Christian. Now we have Dick Batey
Epiphany is now considered a minor day on the church pure speculation," added. "correcting" all these misguided reser-
calendar, marking the adoration of the Maji for Western Batey said that wtule many of the features of modem
vations about observing this pagan-Ca-
churches and the baptism of Jesus for Eastern churches, Wtmas celebrations are derived from pagan rites, that
Vieron said. does not remove the significance of the event for Chris- tholic "day", assuring us that it has "sig-
A 4th century theological debate resulted in a separate tianity. nificance" for "Christianity" after all!
date for the birth of Chirst. A sect known as the Gnostics 'There is a lot that goes on in the Ttempovc ele
believed that Jesus only seemed to be of human form, but bration that is a -ing of emphass:' he sadssl"d But Pagan Customs Approved
because he was God he could not be more than a phantom, from the theolagcal pant of new the story of the birth is Moreover, toward the end of the ar-
Batey said. important in expressing that Jesus is Immanual; that God ticle, please note the quotation from
" p y s aid he had no real body," he said. "That was a is with us."
derual of the incamatiop." The adoption of the pagan customs within the Christian Batey regarding the adoption of pagan
As a result the C o ~ofd N icaea,.in the year 325, ruled framework is not miwe to Christmas, 8ccordmg to Be customs within the Christian frame-
out any doctrine wtuch denied the ulcamatmn of God as tey work not being unique to Christmas:
Jesus. The history of Christianity is to move into an existing
To reinforce the belief that Jesus was man as well as culture with the message that Jesus opens the way to He said, "The History of Christianity
God,b elievers began to celebrate his b i ia ccording to life," he said. 'This means taking existing customs and is to move into an existing culture with
Dr. Batey. Evidence of Christmas celebratim has been d i gthe ones tha!,are compatible and resisting the
dated to the years immediately following the council. ones that are cmtmy. the message that Jesus opens the way
buTt hteh deraey paircek eddi fffoerr itnhge ceexlpelbarnaattiioonn sw afos rD wecheym bite r w2a5s, edD, aeccceomdkmrg 2 t5o i sV iemth. eO onnel yg droayu pC ohfr iEstamstaesr nis Ocertlheobdraotx- ctou sltiofem s. .a .n Td hcios nmfiremanins gt atkhien go neexsi stthinagt .
picked.
are compatible and resisting the ones
that are contrary."
What confuses great numbers of taries thought that was just quite all Somehow the concept of giving a
brethren is how an out-and-out heretic right. Surely it was not for lack of plen- "thus saith the Lord9'-for this or any-
such as Dick Batey can be forced out ty of warning at that time! thing else-no longer appears even to
as a false teacher at Harding Graduate How strange it is to note Dick Batey cross the mind of this erstwhile brother
School, yet bef ellowshipped and upheld appearing with a "meditation" with who seemingly can worship with
by Harding-Graduate-School-teacher "Candles, Carols, Communion" at a churches of Christ, and Christian
and White-Station-elder John Scott, be Christian Church Christmas Eve Ser- churches, as well as work with the Pres-
a professor of religion at Southwestern vice (which would make their commu- byterians without a qualm.
(a Presbyterian school in Memphis) nion on a Saturday night, evidently),
right now, speak in fellowship with the but then note in the article that even With no rancor of any sort intended
Christian church (see ad again)-and though he says Christmas celebrations whatsoever, it needs to be pointed out
still be used by Sweet Publishing Com- did not emerge-until the-4th century- that neither Batey nor those who up-
pany as the writer for the Commentary and many of the features of modem hold him in his false doctrines and prac-
on Romans in the Living Word Com- Christmas celebrations are derived tices genuinely represent the churches
mentary series! from pagan rites-that does not remove of Christ of the restoration movement
Please bear in mind that it was after the significance of the events for Chris- any more. They have gone out from
Batey was let go at Harding Graduate tianity. us simply because they are not of us.
School for his false teaching that his Although many of our brethren do And the sooner we recognize this and
Commentary on Romans was published not observe Christmas at all, since its start treating them as the heretics they
by Sweet in the Living Word series. whole origin goes back to pagan as well really are the sooner we can have peace
Evidently, brethren Ralph Sweet, who as Roman Catholic sources, yet, admit- among the churches. How does Titus
published it, as well as Everett Ferguson, tedly, many-possibly most-of us at 3: 10 teach us to treat heretics? "A man
of Abilene Christian University, editor- least pay "lip service" to the Day, while that is an heretic after the fmt and
in-chief of the Living Word Commen- rejecting it as having any religious con- second admonition reject". (KJV)
Page 6
-
12 THE TENNESSEAN, Monday, Novamber 28, 1m and bread and then
shared their brief service
together.
You have people here
who have come from Na-
zarene, Church of God,
Church of God of Pro hecy
and Church of drist
churches from 10 states. I
yess you could call us
iblical chansma hcs',"
said John Acuff of the Bel-
mont Church of Christ.
THROUGHOUT the ser-
vice men and women
raised their hands as
prayers were said and
songs were sun6 ;fSZ
stood with hands
thy'h sang.
famil believed in
G Qg~u t we Xdn't know he
had L son," said Schiff-
man. 'He told how he fled
from the FBI and the
"spdicate" as well.
God as sovereign as he
is, sends his servants to
save people who need sav-
ing, because the average
man does not know about
spiritual things," Schiif-
man said.
SCHIFFMAN said he
was converted to Chris-
tianity by a converted
-stow hb r GUOI~ Wlr Jewish woman and bv a
Gentile landlord. "I was
Leaders of 'Biblical Charismatic' Meeting Chat ;:gp\%z;;!;\!
he said.%e said ~hriitians
Leading a meeting at the Shemton Hotel yesterday Is inger from California; Steve Schiffman of Atlanta, should:
were, from left, Don Finto, minister of the Belmont and John Acuff, on elder of the Belmont Avenue Give God an how of_
time each morning for
Avenue Church of Christ; Ms. Lillie Knauls, a concert church.
thew ~rotectionf rom the
A Re~orterG oes to Church Devil '
Be Still to Hear God, Speaker Says
By W.A. REED then began pushing co- was a featured speaker at Church of Christ. Give God his da.v -
Te-M ReIkdon Nmn EdUor caine and heroin, but God the Sheraton as evangeli- Before Schiffman Sunday. ~ ~
God is a still, small saved my life," Schiffman cals from over the nation founder and president ot Give back to God the
voice, and to hear him we told an audience of 450. met at the "Koinonia the "Graphic Truth," an first dollar of what we
must be still, Steve Schiff- Come Together," a Atlanta-based religious make because "it's not our
man, a Jewish Christian, SCHIFFMAN, the charismatic event spon- commumcations mln oisrtr& money ."
said yesterday at the grandson of Orthodox sored by the Koinonia talked, there was a "We must be able to love
Sheraton Hotel. and arents, and son of a Book Store and members Supper, and heads of fam- eop!e be ond ourselves,
"I was deahg jn drugs, %is{ family m Chicago, of the Belmont Avenue ilies went up front for wine Forgive tbse who have
wronged us and thank God
for an situations that pro-
Finto Continues TO Draw Away Disciples
dliuvecse, "h issa igdr aDcoen iFni notuor,
After "Perverse Things" In Nashville min~stero f the Belmont
Avenue Church of Christ.
While Jim Reynolds and Dick Batey con- Under date of November 29, 1977, bro- Avenue church of Christ. How far can these
tinue to speak "perverse things, to draw ther Walter Goodall, of Lebanon, Tennes- people go and still call themselves the
away disciples after them" in Dallas and see, enclosed the clipping from The Nash- church of Christ? . . . May God bless you
Memphis, just as Paul foretold the Ephe- ville Tennesseean (photo-reproduced a- in your work."
sian elders that "of your own selves shall bove) in a letter, saying, "I appreciate so Inter-Denominational Communion Service
men arise" and do (Acts 20:30), Don Fin- very much the good work you are doing Please somebody correct me, if I'm
ton, minister to the Belmont Avenue con- in Contending for the Faith . . . I am en- wrong, but if I did not misread this Ten-
gregation, continues to perform the same closing an article that appeared in The nessean article, this entire event at the Sher-
disservice to the cause of truth in Nash- Nashville Tennessean on November 28, aton Hotel, although sponsored jointly by
ville, Tennessee. 1977, about Don Finto and the Belmont the Koinonia Book Store and members of
the Belmont Avenue church of Christ, was conclude that Don Finto and Belmont now phis, Tennessee, where Harold Hazelip is
inter-denominational in its very nature- have gone inter-denominational-which is a the preacher, in looking through the roster
moreover, something called "a Lord's Sup- far cry from the non-denominational unity of speakers, we were able to identify at
per" was featured involving only the heads taught in the word of God. least three (and possib[y more) false tea-
of families present! If this report is cor- And What of the 1978 chers. Study the list carefully (see above)
rect, at least that is a new wrinkle for these Memphis State Seminar? and see if you, too, can tell which is which.
heretics which we had not heard of before. Which brings us next to the 1978 Mem- The three speakers listed, publicly known
From what elder John Acuff is alleged phis State Seminar, announced for January to be just as false teachers as Reynolds,
to have said, at least he looked upon those 20-22, most of which will be held on the Batey or Finto are Landon Saunders, Stan-
coming from the Nazarenes, Church of God, third floor of the Memphis State University ley Shipp and John Wilson. When Harold
Church of God of Prophecy, as well as those Center, located in the heart of the campus, Hazelip and the Highland elders invite such
from the church of Christ who were present in Memphis. Sponsored by the Christian heretics to teach their seminars, should they
as "biblical charismaticsw-whatever that is! Student Center, which, in turn, is sponsored be surprised when the young disciples, thus
From all the evidence at hand, we can but by the Highland Church of Christ, in Mem- infected, depart from the faith?
Page 8
Second Annual Spiritual Sword Lectureship Volume Re:
The Living Messages of the Books of the Old Testament
Is Dedicated to Brother and Sister B. C. Goodpasture
In a ceremony which seemed particularly appropriate to
the occasion and circumstance, the published volume of
the Second Annual Spiritual Sword Lectureship, entitled,
The Living Messages of the Books of the Old Testament,
was dedicated to brother and sister B. C. Goodpasture
at the opening evening service October 23, 1977, at the
Getwell church of Christ, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The dedication statement read as follows: "To the mem-
ory of Benton Cordell Goodpasture, faithful preacher of the
gospel of Jesus Christ for more than sixty years and editor
of the Gospel Advocate for more than thirty-eight years,
and to his wife, Freddie, who survives him, for her loving
companionship which meant so much to him and for her
own dedication to and semce of ocu Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ." (Signed) Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren.
In the photo (upper right), brethren Warren and Elkins
are shown presenting the very first copy of this remarkable
volume to sister Goodpasture.
These two faithful brethren collaborated in bringing out
The Living Messages of the Books of the Old Testament.
This volume is designed as a companion to their earlier
editorship of The Living Messages of the Books of the
New Testament. Each of the 39 chapters is devoted to a
separate book of the Old ~estamenai nd is authored by
a different writer, with an introduction to the entire volume
by Roy Deaver. In addition there are four chapters on D. Warren (Malachi); Roy Deaver (The Old Testament's
crucial related topics such as Grace, Law and Love. Relationship to New Testament Grace); Robert S. Camp
Two Main Purposes of New Volume Emphasized (Theistic Evolution-A Problem, Not a Solution); W. D.
The book has two main purposes. The first is to synthe- Jeffcoat (The Bible and "Social Drinking'); and E. R. Har-
size the central message of each of the 39 books of the per (The Church the Prophets Saw).
Old Testament with key scriptures from each; and the Although it was impossible for brother McGee to be
second is to underline the importance of the Old Testament on hand from Indonesia, Malcolm Hill presented his manu-
as it relates to its eventual fulfillment in Christ. This ful- script in his stead; and brother Wayne Jackson was unable
fillment, of course, was the end of the Old Covenant and to arrive from California. Otherwise the speakers appeared
the beginning of the New Covenant of God with man. as scheduled.
The speakers, all but two of whom appeared on the Living Messages-Books I and Il-Are Companion Volumes
lectureship program, whose manuscripts make up the Beautifully bound in green and stamped in gold by the
body of this inestimable new book, include James D. Bales National Christian Press, these two books on the living
(Genesis); James Meadows (Exodus); W. N. Jackson (Le- messages of the books of the New Testament as well as
viticus); Wendell Winkler (Numbers); J. Noel Merideth of the Old Testament, respectively, as conceived originally,
(Deuteronomy); Gary Ealy (Joshua); Ira Y. Rice, Jr. are a set of two companion volumes suitable to grace any
(Judges); Neale Pryor (Ruth); Terry M. Hightower (First Christian's or church's library. Better than any such books
Samuel); E. R. Brannan (Second Samuel); David L. Lipe known to us, together they present "in a nutshell" the
(First Kings); Goebel Music (Second Kings); J. Thomas central message and key thoughts of every book in the
Eddins (First Chronicles); William S. Cline (Second Chro- Bible.
nicles); Ray Hawk (Ezra); Garland Elkins (Nehemiah); What marvelous study books each volume is! And what
Clifford Reel (Esther); Thomas B. Warren (Job);C . Hugo wonderful gifts they make-particularly as a set-whether
McCord (Psalms); Carroll Ellis (Proverbs); Billy R. Smith for Christian families, church libraries, weddings, gradua-
(Ecclesiastes); James H. Laws (Song of Solomon); Wayne tions, anniversaries, birthdays, or whatever!
Jackson (Isaiah); Guy N. Woods (The Word "Virgin'?; As a service to our readers, Contending for the Faith
Johnny Ramsey (Jeremiah); William Wilder (Lamenta- now has laid in a good supply of each. The Living Mes-
tions); Rex A. Turner (Daniel);A ndrew M. Connally (Ho- sages of the Books of the New Testament is $10.00; The
sea); Pat McGee (Joel); Alan E. Highers (Amos); Frank Living Messages of the Books of the Old Testament is $12.00;
D. Young (Obadiah);P aul T. &dwell, Sr. (Jonah);C harles or, purchased as a set, cash with order, you may have
R. Williams (Micah); Max R. Miller (Nahum); Maurice both volumes together for only $20.00. Please address all
W. Lusk 111 (Habakkuk); James R. McGill (Zephaniah); orders to: Contending for the Faith, Post Office Box 26247,
Mac Deaver (Haggai);V . E. Howard (Zechariah);L indsey Birmingham, Alabama 35226.
Page 9
Who Will Cleanse The Temple?
Frank Morgan
Mark 1 1: 15 finds Christ and his company coming to Peter declared "there were false prophets also among
Jerusalem whereupon he entered the temple. What he the people, even as there shall be false teachers among
observed stirred him to a reaction many today would con- you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies. (2 Peter
sider too radical, extreme or even violent. There he saw 2:l). Jude said "there are certain men crept in unawares
"them that sold and bought . . . doves", and possibly . . .ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into las-
other merchandise as well, and "moneychangers" who civiousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord
changed Roman money into the half-shekel Jewish coin Jesus Christ." (Verse 4).
required by the law of Moses as tribute to the service of If Christ visited the church-temple in our town, U.S.A.,
the sanctuary. (Exodus 30: 11-16). today he would, I believe, do a little casting out. He isn't
The Lord took action immediately. He "cast out them going to pay us that kind of visit, but he has left instruc-
that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tions for us to keep the temple cleansed. By inspiration
tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that Paul said "mark them which cause divisions and offenses
sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned; and avoid
carry any vessel through the temple." (Verses 15 & 16). them." (Romans 16: 17). Agay he said "if any man that is
His explanation for this behavior is recorded in verse called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,
17: "Is it not written, my house shall be called of all or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a
. . .
nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den one no not to eat therefore put away from among your-
of thieves." (See Isaiah 56:7). selves that wicked per9pn." (I Corinthians 5:11 & 13).
Some Objected, Sought to Destroy Jesus Disorderly to be Withdrawn From
There were those who objected to the Lord's insistence "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the
that the temple be maintained for the holy purposes in- Lord Jesus Christ," said Paul in 2 Thess. 3:6, "that ye with-
tended, and would have registered their objection most draw yourselves from every brother that waketh disor-
forcefully. "The scribes and chief priests heard it," we are derly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."
told in verse 18, "and sought how they might destroy The first temple had its merchants and moneychangers
him." It wasn't organized crime or the state, nor was it who commercialized the sacred house of prayer. The second
the atheistic element of the community who would have temple, even today, has those who divide and offend con-
destroyed the Lord. It was the religious leaders. And for trary to the apostles doctrine; those who walk disorderly
what? Among other things, for cleansing the temple. contrary to the tradition received of the apostles; and those
That temple is no more, as the Lord foretold in Matthew who live immoral, ungodly lives.
24:l-2. But there is another of far greater importance. Jesus Christ cleansed the first temple. He leaves it to
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth," (I Cor- us to keep the second clean. But when you take up this
inthians 1:2) Paul said, "Know ye not that ye are the challenge you should know that certain religious leaders
temple of God?" (I Corinthians 3:16). You are "an holy will oppose you vigorously. That didn't stop the Lord.
temple in the Lord . . . for an habitation of God." (Ephe- Will it stop you?
sians 2: 19-22). Westside Church of Christ
First Temple Called the House of Prayer P. 0. Box 657
The first temple was to have been "called of all nations McKinney, TX 75069
the house of prayer," Mark 1 1: 1 8. Likewise, the second
temple, which is the church, has certain holy purposes Woodbury Needs Immediate Help
ascribed unto it. By it "the manifold wisdom of God" is
In Sending Langfords To Hawaii
to be known. (Ephesians 3: 10). In it God is to be glorified
"throughout all ages, world without end." (Ephesians 3 :21). T. Pierce Brown
The church of Christ, 100 E. Water St., Woodbury, TN 37190
It is to be "the pillar and ground of the truth." (I Timothy
is sponsoring Jerry Langford in mission work in Hawaii. He has
3: 15). The nature of its character is to be that of glorious done extensive mission work in Africa and Jamaica, but due to
holiness without "spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing . . . the deterioration of the political situation in Jamaica, we decided
to help him in Hawaii instead. Brother Langford is married to the
and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27). former Jeannie Nicks, daughter of Billy Nicks. They have two
The first temple was turned into "a den of thieves" by daughters, Kim, age 10, and Dawn, age 6.
Hawaii is especially needy, as it is looked upon as a "stepchild"
those who chose to disregard the God-ordained purpose
sort of work. It is not "foreign", so it lacks the "glamor" that
for its use. (Mark 11 : 1 8). Paul warned of those who would foreign work seems to hdd for some churches. It is not in the
turn the second temple, which is the church, from its holy continental United States, so it is not appealing to others. So it
is too far away to appeal to some, and too close for others. In
purposes as well. "For I know this, that after my departing
addition to that, some seem to think that anyone going to Hawaii
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing must be looking for a supported vacation.
the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speak- This is not the case! It is a hard field, and the going will be
slow, but having supported brother Langford in his previous work,
ing perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." we believe he has the ability to do the job. We appreciate the
(Acts 20:29-30). In Galatians 2:4 he warned of "false breth- help of those who are contributing to his monthly support or
ren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out travel fund. He still needs help on a travel fund, so if you will
help with a one-time contribution, please contact us immediately.
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might .T he church phone is 615-563-2119.
bring us into bondage."