#5

Clint Harper

From such names as Jeff Walling, Buddy Bell, Rubel Shelley and others, the cry has been sounded forth that we should "agree to disagree." That is, instead of making a big deal out of someone teaching something that is not exactly what we would teach, that as long as they believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, then we should accept them and not try to change them. In fact, these men, and those who follow them, are advocating that we go as far as fellowship with all those who believe in Jesus. And, yes, that includes all the denominations.

But that is not the entire problem. Many are the brethren who refuse to take a stand against error when it is found. Even where a congregation is worshipping in the right manner, many are they who refuse to stand up to error and try to change it. They never speak up. They never make a challenge. They never allow the false doctrine to upset them in the least. In many places there are brethren who believe the truth, but when the congregation where they worship is invaded by false teachers, these brethren many times fail to see the need to do anything, including leaving. They may think that harmony is more important. They may think they can change the congregation back. Indeed, they may, but not if they sit on their laurels and say nothing.

The stench of compromise, apathy and fear will nearly carry a person away.

But did you know that, as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9). Even in the days of our Lord and the Apostles, there were those who were practicing the same principles. John was told to write to the church at Pergamos a rebuke for allowing them who "hold the doctrine of Balaam" and them "who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans" to stay (Rev. 2:14-15). The church at Thyatira was scolded for suffering "that woman Jezebel…to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols" (Rev. 2:20). To the church at Laodicea he was to write and tell them that the Lord was sick with their lukewarmness (Rev. 3:16). Paul had to address an issue at Corinth in his first letter. "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you" (1 Cor. 5:1-2).

There were times and places that the first century church did not do such a good job of standing up for the truth. However, this was not always true. When those who taught that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved came to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas stood up to them and "had no small dissension and disputation with them" (Acts 15:2). Paul scolded Peter to his face for causing a division in a congregation (Galatians 2:11ff). And he even called the names of Hymenaeus and Philetus who were leading people astray with false doctrine (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Therefore, we can see that there were some who were "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We are given the following instructions:

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

2 John 9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Therefore, "brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).