The Book - Page 63

of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). One significant source that contributes to the kind of approach mentioned is Lynn Anderson's book, Navigating the Winds of Change. It put the brotherhood on notice regarding the methodology preferred by the "change-agents." In the book he suggests pressing for change to the breaking point and before the group blows apart back up a bit and let things die down then press again. In this way a group gradually can be ratcheted into an entirely new venue over a period of time. What has become obvious by now is that the change desired simply is to turn the church into a modern denomination. It was Anderson who years ago made the odious statement, "The church is a big, sick denomination." Since that time his writings bear out the point that his efforts consistently have been to transform the church into a big, healthy denomination.

A member at Madison gave me an example of what you mention. He said those who oppose hand clapping and praise team presentations are being referred to as "Zenos." Zeno was a Greek philosopher who lived in the fourth century BC and is the founder of the Stoics. Stoics were taught to be without passion or feeling. This offensive labeling is an attempt to sidestep the critical issue of HOW a worshiper's passion for God and depth of feeling for him appropriately are to be expressed in worship. Let these insensitive brethren show from sacred scripture where true worship that includes passion and feeling for God is expressed through clapping of hands and dramatic skits presented by the so-called praise team. Paul taught that the actions displayed in worship are subject to the spirit of the worshiper and that God is a God of order and does not create confusion (I Cor. 14:32-33, 40). A true and faithful presentation of the Bible's teaching on HOW to worship yields five avenues or channels through which the worshiper expresses his passion and feelings toward God. They are praying (I Thess. 5:17), singing (Eph. 5:19), preaching (II Tim. 4:2), the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7), and giving (I Cor. 16:2). These authorized avenues of adoration are far in advance of raucous, unregulated hand clapping and playacting that vainly struggles to convey some axiom of actuality.
In all walks of life those effective in promoting harmony even when disagreements arise demonstrate the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable. A great biblical principle is stated by the apostle Peter on this point: "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful [full of pity or 'tenderhearted' ASV], be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it" (I Pet. 3:8-11). One brother recently observed, "A man who rebels at the simple commands of God, such as baptism, giving, the Lord's Supper, etc., will never rise to the higher commands, such as the love of enemies" (Howard Winters, "Don't Lose Your Love" in the bulletin of The Highland Church of Christ, Dalton, GA, Barry Gilreath, Jr. editor, 2:37, p. 2).

Question

I'm not sure I'm qualified to ask all the right questions this morning. If you would, please use this space to inform the concerned members at Madison, and other concerned members around the country, with any message that will help us in reference to the take over of the "Community Churches."

Mr. McDade

We now know the source/sources from which erring brethren are drawing their pattern for this movement. Recently a Baptist paper in Dallas interviewed the highly popular writer Max Lucado who is a preacher from San Antonio, Texas. In the review, among other compromising statements, he said he would make a good Baptist. Lucado told the reporter that he had been invited to come to Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois in 1988 but was advised to stay put for the time being. Willow Creek Community Church with its founder Bill Hybels is the current model others such as Rick Warren from Saddleback in Orange County, California are imitating. The obvious motivation for this imitation is the rapid growth of Willow Creek Community Church. However, people ought to be aware that Willow Creek and Saddleback are both located at the epicenter of areas experiencing a population explosion. Rick Warren states this as the reason he chose the Saddleback area (p. 34). In addition, both Hybels and Warren state in their writings that they believe they were and are being directly led by God (cf. e.g., p. 26 of Warren's book). Such a view is false doctrine (II Pet. 1:3; Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19). Now that these sources have been exposed brethren may apply Romans 16:17-18 in resolving the issue: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

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