We Get Letters

Few articles I have ever written have provoked the response that “Should I go to the Preachers’ Meeting?” (July 2003) has. Some people loved it. Some wondered from it if I was defending one cup doctrine (huh? And no, I’m not). Of course, some were less than pleased by what was written. Here is a sample from the e-mail bag:

“I read your reason for not attending the preachers meeting and find it interesting. Do you feel that you are biblically correct and the other six preachers are preaching error?... I do not feel that good and honest men can agree on everything the Bible says or even know what the Bible says in some cases. It sounds to me you have assumed you and your group are scripturally correct. I hope you are right. As for me I trust in his grace to make me righteous.”

This was fairly representative of the negative responses that the article received. Let’s take a moment and review what is being said here.

First, notice there isn’t a biblical argument in the response. No scripture is cited. Nothing is said about how I misquoted or misused scripture. Nothing. There is a ton of human reasoning and some pretty nice appeals to emotionalism here, but nothing that even resembles an argument from scripture. Note the appeal to “I feel” not “the Bible says”. Contrast that to Jesus, when He was confronted by opposition and questions. Over and over He asks “Have you not read?” (see Matt. 12:3 , 5; 19:4 ). Wouldn’t it be impressive if those who think doctrinal differences should be swept under the rug and ignored sent over some passages that show how right their activities are under the headline “Have you not read?”

All I argued from in my article is that people coming together and refusing to even entertain serious Bible study so they could truly be united in the Lord’s work is a sham and a violation of Ephesians 5:11 and 2 John 9. That is what the Bible says. Thus, we cannot bid the men who are preaching the polluted gospel in Irving’s various liberal churches godspeed and encourage them in their work of apostasy. If someone wishes to show that those churches are not in apostasy we should be open to studying these matters. If someone wishes to show that it is okay to encourage men in error then we will listen to that too. However, somewhere in all of this we want to hear some Bible. Is that too much to ask?

Second, notice this letter completely buys into the idea that the Bible isn’t understandable. “I do not feel that good and honest men can agree on everything the Bible says or even know what the Bible says in some cases.” Certainly no one is claiming to know everything the Bible says, nor is anyone saying we must agree on everything (read Romans 14). The question is “Can we gloss over major doctrinal differences, refusing to even discuss or study the issues that divide the Lord’s people in Irving?” The letter is simply is reviving the old “since we can’t know everything we can’t know anything” bit. That simply won’t work in light of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 will it? Scripture does equip us to know some things, to understand God’s will, to know what God wants us to do and it ought to be used for such a purpose. When brethren disagree their first recourse ought to be to Bible study not potlucks and a pretense that division doesn’t matter!

Third, letters in opposition came with a stinger in them. The letter says “It sounds to me that you have assumed you and your group are scripturally correct.” What an ugly charge! Evidently this individual believes a bunch of people got together, anointed their think-so’s and opinions as right and correct, and then set about denouncing everyone else under the name “Westside church of Christ.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We have assumed nothing, but instead labored diligently in very careful Bible study to find out what God wants us to do. Is that wrong? Does that make us bad people? It made the Bereans “noble” and found them an honored place in Scriptural history (Acts 17:11)! All we are noting is that there are others, who claim some allegiance to the principles of New Testament Christianity that we also hold dear, who have reached very different conclusions than we have. We want to know more about that. We believe them to be sincere and yes, sincerely wrong. But all we want is to talk about these matters, to study the Word of God together. Again, is that so bad? We find that if we are willing to attend a joint worship service in which these issues are never spoken of, no Bible study is done, and division among Christians is totally ignored we are welcomed and will be praised. Yet when we urge Bible study, God’s remedy to division, we are characterized as a bunch of self-righteous jerks. Doesn’t that seem out of kilter to anyone?

Finally, our writer thrusts in the dagger by saying “as for me I trust in his grace to make me righteous.” Isn’t that kind? The clear insinuation is that we do not trust in God’s grace. Yet regularly and often we teach, both in this paper and in our pulpit and Bible classes, that anyone saved will be saved by grace or not at all (Eph. 2:8-9). That said, we are not so blind as to believe that we can do anything we want, act any way we please and then presume God’s grace will cover our sinful, self-willed folly. Such won’t work: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1). Grace is not a licence for sin or ignorance, nor are grace and obedience at war with each other. Witness the life of Christ. He was “full of grace” (John 1:14) and yet always obeyed the Father ( John 5:30).

God has always blessed these who sincerely wanted to please Him by studying His word so they could do exactly as God says to do. We must do no less today, despite the shots taken at us by those who have lost their faith in God’s word as the means by which God’s people are bound together in His work. We stand on God’s word and will continue to urge all, in Irving and every other place, to do just the same.