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Defending the Indefensible

Defending the Indefensible. Examining proof-texts of liberalism. Liberalism. “Not restricted to the literal meaning; free and unconfined” Going beyond / changing God’s word ( 2 Jno. 9; Rev. 22:18-19 ) Continue to need scriptural authority! – Colossians 3:17. A “New Hermeneutic”.

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Defending the Indefensible

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  1. Defendingthe Indefensible Examining proof-texts of liberalism

  2. Liberalism • “Not restricted to the literal meaning; free and unconfined” • Going beyond / changing God’s word (2 Jno. 9; Rev. 22:18-19) • Continue to need scriptural authority! –Colossians 3:17

  3. A “New Hermeneutic” Has changed the way many in churches of Christ view and apply Bible authority

  4. Bible Authority:Acts 15 • Approved example,15:6-11 • Necessary inference,15:12(14:3) • Direct statement,15:13-19 • At one time Christians generally agreed with this

  5. Guy N. Woods, 1957 “With much of brother Cogdill’s speech I am in complete agreement …No one calls in question these matters which he discussed regarding the authority of the scriptures, the all-sufficiency of the church of our Lord in the matter of performing the work which God gave the church to do.” (Cogdill-Woods Debate, p. 26)

  6. A New Hermeneutic “But there isnoinfallible method for interpreting Scripture. There is no heaven-given system of Bible study.” (Rubel Shelly & Randall J. Harris, The Second Incarnation, p. 19)

  7. A New Hermeneutic “Thus werejecta rigid‘pattern theology’that simply proposes to transplant religious-cultural forms from the Bible to the 20th or 21st century.”(Ibid., p. 31)

  8. A New Hermeneutic “Our hermeneutic is thereforetheologicalandChristocentric.” (Ibid., 28)

  9. A New Hermeneutic “Is the activity or methodology under contemplationconsistent with the person and work of Jesus Christ? If we do this,willthepeoplewho see itthinkwe revealChrist? Will we be doingwhat people would expect to see Christ doingin this situation?”(Ibid., 29)

  10. Broad Consequences “This principle hasbroad consequencesfor ecclesiology. It says, for example, thatthe church need not have either explicit mandate or permission for everything it wishes to do. The church may confidently ground its activities of compassion and service in the character of its head.” (Ibid., 29)

  11. The Results • Fewer will attempt to defend their practices using Bible patterns –2 Tim. 4:3-4 (3:13) • Silence of the Scriptures will increasingly be used to approve practices • Ecumenism (unity in doctrinal & moral diversity) will increase

  12. Are You an “Anti”? • “Opposed to a given proposal, policy, etc.” • The charge: We are opposed to church cooperation

  13. No Binding Patterns?! “So, it becomes necessary to raise the question: is there anexclusive pattern of church cooperationtaught in the Bible? My answer.No.” (Guy N. Woods, Cogdill-Woods Debate, 196)

  14. No Binding Patterns?! “The Bible doesnotprovide an exclusive pattern forevangelism.” (Jackie M. Stearsman, “Church Cooperation and Evangelism,” The Harvester, Feb. 1997) http://www.fsop.net/harvest/1996_97/february.htm

  15. Cooperation Among Churches EVANGELISM C $ $ Preacher C Preach Gospel $ C Acts 13:1-3; Phil. 4:15-16 2 Cor. 11:8 15

  16. Cooperation Among Churches EVANGELISM C $ Missionary Society; Sponsoring Church $ $ Preach Gospel Preacher C $ C Scripture Please! NOT THIS! 16

  17. Cooperation Among Churches BENEVOLENCE C $ Local Church (elders) $ $ C Relieve Need $ C Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-3 2 Cor. 8:1-4, 13-15; 9:1, 12-14 Rom. 15:25-27 17

  18. Cooperation Among Churches BENEVOLENCE C $ SPONSORING CHURCH; INSTITUTION $ $ $ Relieve Need C Need $ C Scripture Please! NOT THIS! 18

  19. Scripture Please! • Church support & maintain human organizations to do its work? • Sponsoring church overseeing benevolence & evangelism for many churches? • One church soliciting other churches to support its work?

  20. Liberalism Says… There is no binding pattern for the work of the local church… “Whatever love for God and man dictates, is the law of God for the church.” - Cogdell, The Cogdell-Turner Discussion, 90)

  21. NT Pattern: Work of the Local Church • Preach the gospel -1 Ths. 1:8; Acts 11:22; Phil. 1:5-7 • Edify the saints -1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:11-12; Acts 11:22f; 13:1-2 • Relieve needy saints –Acts 6:1-6; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8-9; 1 Tim. 5:16

  22. Local Church All-Sufficient • The local church, under the oversight of its own elders, is fully-equipped to accomplish its God-given work(Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2)

  23. The issue: Evangelism • May churches of Christ build & maintain missionary societies to do the work God gave the local church to do?

  24. The issue: Evangelism Select areas Select preachers Church Provide place, support This! Facilities

  25. The issue: Evangelism Select areas Missionary Society (President, Board, Treasury) Men Church Provide place Support, Facilities Not This!

  26. The issue: Edification • May churches of Christ build & maintain colleges to do the work God gave the local church to do?

  27. The issue: Edification Select curriculum Select teachers Church Provides place This! Provides support, Facilities

  28. The issue: Edification Select subjects College (President, Board, Treasury) Select teachers Church Provides place, facilities Not This!

  29. The issue: Benevolence • May churches of Christ build & maintain benevolent societies to do the work God gave the local church to do?

  30. The issue: Benevolence Sees need, Acts 6 Appoints men, Acts 6 Church Provides place, support This! Care, facilities

  31. The issue: Benevolence Sees need Benevolent Society (President, Board, Treasury) Appoints men Church Provides place, Support, care, etc. Not This!

  32. SINGING Eph. 5:19 Col. 3:16 1 Cor. 14:15 Matt. 26:30 Jas. 5:13 Acts 16:25 Heb. 2:12 SAINTS Acts 2:44-45 Acts 6:1-6 Acts 11:29-30 Rom. 15:26-27 1 Cor. 16:1 2 Cor. 8-9 Benevolence: Saints ONLY ONLY

  33. Liberalism Says… Whatever theindividualChristiancan do thechurchcan do

  34. Fail to Distinguish Individual Action & Church Action • Galatians 6:10: Misapplied to okay general benevolence • James 1:27:Misapplied to okay church support of human organizations - Mark 14:7 -

  35. Churches or Individuals?

  36. Scriptural Distinction • Matt. 18:15-17: One, one or two more, the church • 1 Tim. 5:16:Let not the church be charged, but the individual family member is charged • Acts 11:22:The church acted, and so did an individual

  37. Liberalism Says… The local church should providebenevolentrelieftoall men(saints & sinners)

  38. The Argument: • Jesus’ compassionate miracles allow the local church to relieve the needs of saints & sinners alike • Matthew 4:23; 25:35-40

  39. The Argument: “Jesus not only releases but compels the modern church to find incrementally more effective ways to feed the hungry, cloth the needy, minister to the outcasts, and provide homes for the homeless…

  40. The Argument: “…Literacy programs, soup kitchens, drug dependency programs, and prison outreaches need no other justification than that, in such activities, the church takes on both the heart and demeanor of the one she calls Lord and Master.” (Shelly/Harris, 29)

  41. Defending the Indefensible • Confirming miracles, Jno. 5:36; 10:38 • Not all were healed, 2 Tim. 4:20 • Individuals stand in judgment, not churches

  42. The Argument: • 2 Cor. 9:13:ALL MEN • Are told that churches relieved the needs of all men • Are told that churches sent funds to relieveall men in Jerusalem, not just needy saints

  43. Defending the Indefensible • Translation – “men” supplied by translators of KJV & NKJV • Pantas: “all of a like kind, everything” • Humanity does not adhere to the word (context determines)

  44. The Context: • Saints(Jerusalem & all others) • 2 Cor. 8:4 – to the saints • 2 Cor. 9:1 – to the saints • 2 Cor. 9:12 – needs of saints • 2 Cor. 9:13 (Rom. 15:27) – Sharing (fellowship) (Eph. 5:11; 2 Jno. 10-11) • 2 Cor. 9:14 – Recipients prayed for sending churches

  45. 2 Corinthians 9:13 • Money RAISED for saints,1 Cor. 16:1; Rom. 15:26 • Money SENT to saints,Rom. 15:25 • Money RECEIVED by saints,Rm. 15:31 • Money SUPPLIED NEEDS of saints,2 Cor. 9:12 DID PAUL MISAPPLY THESE FUNDS?!

  46. Liberalism Says… The local church maybuild&/orsupporthuman organizationsto do its benevolent & evangelistic work

  47. The Argument: • Church-supported benevolent organizations • The end justifies the means “The church has a primary mission to perform and work to do - saving souls and keeping them saved. Butany activitythat will contribute to thatendwhich is not of itself sinful, ispermissiblefor the church to engage in,as long as it is done with that end in view…

  48. The Argument: • The end justifies the means “Furthermore, the church canuse any means and methods that it sees fittoaccomplish this end so long as those means and methods are not in and of themselves sinful.” (Gaston Cogdell, p. 91-92)

  49. Defending the Indefensible • The end does not justify the means – Rom. 3:8 • The “view in mind” must be “good” in God’s sight – Heb. 13:21 • That is defined by God’s word, not our good intentions! – 2 Tim. 3: 16-17

  50. The Argument: • Church-supported benevolent organizations • No instructions to the church “There are no instructions in the scriptures as to how the church is to carry on its work of evangelization and benevolence.”(Gaston Cogdell, p. 95)

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