Continuing Digression – Eventual Defection?
Mainline Liberal Church of Christ View of Denominational Promise Keepers
Jay Horsley
When digressions from the pattern of God's work began in the 1950's and developed into the institutional controversy many faithful brethren warned that any digression - however seemingly small - would lead ultimately to wholesale apostasy and fellowship with denominations. The men who sounded this warning were labeled as extremist and fear mongers. These men were right. Consider the reaction of the departed churches to the Denominational group “Promise Keepers”.
LACK OF RESPECT FOR BIBLE AUTHORITY
Notice first of all in this article that the objections of brethren who want to hold to Bible teachings in regard to this denominational organization have their concerns paralleled with (put on the same level as) the ungodly rantings of radical feminists. This is an affront to the God of heaven and all who hold His word dear.
The scriptures are our standard. All things are to be judged by it, Heb. 4:11, it is all we need 2 Pet. 1:3, 2 Tim. 3:16,17, we are only to speak as it speaks 1 Pet. 4:11, and we must do all by the authority it contains Col. 3:16. Those who wrote and published this article seem to have no such attitude.
If we would paraphrase the open paragraphs - “The radical feminists don't like it, the radical Bible thumpers didn't like it – but we did it anyway.” And to to paraphrase the rest of the article, “And we really liked it too.”
“David Fraser, one of several men who shared their views of the event with the "Chronicle" said, "I thought the event would be a historic time to pray for our country, and that it would be a vivid memory-making element of my spiritual walk."
Fraser, 38, is a member of the North Davis church, Arlington, Texas....Fraser says the Promise Keepers' "has brought out in me a passion in worship and has given me a good basic teaching on what a godly man should be. It's been a major influence in my life."
Another member of the North Davis church, Bill Dismuke took his wife and two daughters with him to Washington...As for Promise Keepers effect on his life, Dismuke said, "It has caused me to focus on being a more godly husband and father."
IS THE LOCAL CHURCH NOT SUFFICIENT?
David Fraser said that Promise Keepers gave him a “passion in worship.” Did Brother Fraser not get “a passion in worship” where he is a regular worshiper? If not, something is wrong. Something is wrong with how he worships at his local congregation or something is wrong with the worship itself. If worshiping the God of heaven in five authorized acts (singing, praying, L.S. giving and teaching) doesn't give him a “passion” for worship then what can a denominational organization - that does not even claim to be a church - offer? They can offer size, hoopla and pep-rally type meetings. This would make Brother Fraser's “passion” a physical, not spiritual one.
He also says that Promise Keepers has “has given me a good basic teaching on what a godly man should be”. Another man said, “It has caused me to focus on being a more godly husband and father”. We might ask, if they had to learn these things from outside the church then WHAT IS THEIR CONGREGATION TEACHING? If their congregation was teaching the whole counsel of God they would have covered it in their sermons and/or classes.
Other questions: Did these church member have to learn what a “godly man should be” from those outside the church? Can their “spiritual walk” not be complete without these denominationalists?
If we would truthfully answer these questions we see 3 options. 1.) The church these men attend (an institutional church with all its extra - non authorized - activities that are supposed to be such good and helpful works) is woefully inadequate. OR 2.) That the denominational organization Promise Keepers is trying to fulfill the role of teaching, edification, encouragement, and salvation that God assigned to the church and is therefore and unauthorized addition to the word of God. OR 3.) Both #1 and #2 are true.
David Phillips, member of the Highland Street church, Memphis...said, "I was overwhelmed and overjoyed to be a part of such a gathering of Christian men. You're connected with your brothers worldwide to meet, confess, pray and cry."
FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH DENOMINATIONS
These men from every Protestant Denomination, a good number of Roman Catholics, and a few from every other branch and stripe in “Christendom” came together in their commonality and mutual interest for what are admittedly good things. But in the fullest sense of the word were these men “Christians”? Or as we so often use to designate those of the true faith, “New Testament Christians”? No they were not. But how does this man from a “Church of Christ” refer to them? As “Christians” - no matter if they have been baptized, or what church they go to or what they believe.
We might have sympathy with this brother's confusion when we realize that the best known (by worldly standards) preacher associated with the Churches of Christ in America - Max Lucado - was speaking the self-same words from the podium.
These men obviously saw themselves in spiritual fellowship with this group and its members on this day. After all they were there as “brothers worldwide to meet, confess, pray and cry”. Some questions need to ask about this. If you fellowship the people - how long until you fellowship the church they are in? If you think that they are right with God where they are at - how long until you think that where they are at is right with God?
These excepts from a “Church of Christ” newspaper tell us little about the Promise Keepers - we already knew about them - rather its tells us how little so many who consider themselves to be “Christians” and who are members of “Churches of Christ” know of the one true church, the true faith, and the teachings of the scripture. It should not surprise us if these churches go father and farther into denominationalism - many of their members and leaders are already there.