Ultra-Liberalism In Churches of Christ
How Ultra-Liberalism Comes Into A Congregation
Last month we began a series on Ultra-Liberalism In Churches of Christ. We discussed nineteen items that are often seen in the development of ultra-liberalism in a congregation of God's people.
How do these views takeover or split a church? Part of the answer is found in the fact there is a lot of soft preaching going on in churches today. Many brethren do not recognize false teaching when it hits them in the face. Another reason is the smooth and flattering speech of the false teacher. Those advocating these views come into a church preaching love, joy and happiness, but they are there to have their way and they will tear up the church to get it. No better description can be found for these men than that given by the apostle Paul, "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissension and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting," Romans 16:17-18.
In the February 1993 issue of Firm Foundation an article appeared by the name, HandBook for False Teachers. The article was written by Eric Brinn Hall and is a tongue-in-cheek expose' of how false teachers take over a church. The article is written kind of like the old Screwtape Letters, where Satan instructs the demons on how to get people to sin.
In the article the false teacher is a preacher, but that is not always the case. When seeking the preaching job the man is told "evade difficult questions and say what they want to hear." Once the job is secured, he is told to make friends with those members who have zeal but little knowledge. Especially among the other ministers, the singles, young marrieds and if possible the elders.
What should he preach? Hall says, "You should preach love at every opportunity." Make critics look unloving. If any negative sermon is preached, direct it toward the evil critics. "Never preach about the distinctiveness of the church...Never leave the impression that we can know truth...You should constantly stress our inability to be completely sure about anything...Never preach about the qualifications of elders." When you do, don't mention Titus 1:9. "Never preach a sermon from Jude."
After six months or a year the false teacher is told to drop his bomb. The "bomb" is a sermon on a subject that he knows will cause trouble. "The actual subject of your bomb is only a secondary concern. Some have used instrumental music; some have used baptism; some the role of women in the church."
If the false teacher has done his job, most members who disagree will keep quiet for "fear of being labeled evil, regressive, divisive, hypercritical legalists." If some do object, make each one feel that he is the only one in the church to disagree with you. Make certain all your supporters understand that the "critics are the ones causing the trouble. If they would just let it all drop, the rest of the church could go on its merry (and hence happy and loving ) way...If you follow this plan, then the congregation (or what is left, anyway) will be yours...When the dust settles, you will have a building full of zealous know-nothings and an eldership that will jump through hoops if you threaten to leave. Keep everyone jumping for awhile and then move on."
Tongue-in-cheek or not, there is a lot of truth in this article about how false teachers infiltrate churches. Brethren, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves," Matt. 7:15. Next Month: Some Examples of Ultra-liberalism. - Richard Sims