Dear friends, this is a subject that we should consider very seriously because its
implications reach into eternity. There was a time when the people of God knew the
Bible, and they maintained an undying loyalty to divine authority and to the blood
bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ. In former days preachers, elders, and Bible
class teachers made a determined effort to inform Christians about the errors of
denominationalism but it is different in many places today. What have we accomplished
if we teach against moral sins such as homosexuality, abortion, adultery, racial prejudice,
incest, stealing, and drunkenness), yet fail to teach against doctrinal errors such as once
saved always saved, the direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the sinner's heart in
conviction and conversion, salvation by faith only, present day miraculous divine healing,
sprinkling and pouring instead of immersion, and the use of mechanical instruments of
music in New Testament worship? What we will have done is this: sown the seed of
apostasy, tilled the soil of ecumenism, and created an atmosphere of tolerance for every
form of doctrinal corruption among God's people. The purity of the local congregation
involves both moral and doctrinal conformity to the word of the living God. The
congregation at Pergamum had people who were practicing sexual immorality
and some among them held to the teaching of Balaam and the teaching
of the Nicolaitans, and as the result of their lack of conformity in doctrine and practice
the Lord said, "I have a few things against you ... repent then." (Rev. 2:12-16)
In the early 1990's I read a lot about a heinous movement that had roots
in Florida. In those days older preachers with knowledge and experience were saying if
this new movement is not challenged, we will see numerous congregations with their
elders and deacons become so soft that they will take the journey to denominationalism.
The movement was known as The Crossroads Movement. The assessment of the
wise older preachers was exactly right. They hit the nail on the head. The movement
eventually expanded and developed its own system of teaching and organization and
later evolved into The Boston Movement. The movement had cultic tendencies and
several congregations and elderships could be identified as congregations of Christ
only in "name." Their attitudes changed from a formerly militant stance of walk softly
and carry a big stick to a "tip-toe and carry a toothpick" posture. (Jude 3) Their practice
changed from only doing what was authorized by the New Testament, to doing what they
wish could be found in the word of God. The only thing that brought more sorrow to the
hearts of men who were committed to "sticking with the book," was the fact that those who
departed from the truth of God had a rather large group of sympathizers. What are some
of the telltale signs that a person or congregation is taking the journey to
denominationalism?
1) When a person or congregation looks for something in addition to the
word of God to lead them to the salvation in Christ. Many people in the
Crossroads Movement talked about the Holy Spirit guiding them, touching their eyes
and preparing their hearts to obey God. They were expecting the Holy Spirit to do
something to them that the word of God could not do for them. They were implicitly
denying the all-sufficiency of the word of God as the message of salvation. They seemed
oblivious to the fact that the word is the instrument through which the Spirit works to
convict and convert the alien sinner, and to build up the believer. (Acts 20:32;
2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jas. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3) "For the word of God is living and active."
(Heb. 4:12) It is not only "living," but living and active, meaning it gets inside a person's
heart and brings forth results. The word of God does this because God designed it this
way. We are "brought forth by the word of truth." (Jas. 1:18) The implanted word "is able
to save our souls." (Jas. 1:21) The "word of the cross" is the power of God to salvation.
(Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18, 21) I have never met a person who believes the Holy
Spirit is influencing them apart from the teaching of sacred scripture, who did not begin
teaching things that the Holy Spirit did not reveal to the apostles of Christ. (Jno. 16:13;
1 Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:5) When this happens, if they do not see the error of their way and turn,
the inevitable consequence will be to take the journey to denominationalism.
2) When a person or congregation speaks disparagingly of the concept that
the New Testament constitutes a pattern for faith and conduct. This is usually
done when the "progressives" want to initiate a program or work, that as things stand,
they cannot find any authorization for in the New Testament, so their choices are either
to abandon the unauthorized concept, or as is usually done, to say, "Well, we don't need
authority for everything we do anyway because the New Testament does not constitute
a pattern. It is a series of 'love letters' that are primarily applicable to the apostolic age."
The apostles believed their writings were authoritative, absolute, and that they were to
guide the Lord's people. Therefore, they believed in "pattern authority." Paul said there
is one gospel, and that no one, angel or otherwise has any right to change it! (Gal. 1:6-9)
Paul was certain that he was writing the "commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37)
He told Timothy to "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from
me." (2 Tim. 1:13, ESV) James said we have "the perfect law of liberty." (Jas. 1:25)
Jude said "the faith has been once for all delivered to the holy people." (Jude 3) The
point is, if the New Testament is not to be changed, consists of the commandments of the
Lord, is a pattern of sound words, is a perfect law of liberty, and is the faith that has been
once for all delivered to the holy people of God, (and all of these things are true), therefore
the New Testament is the pattern or standard for faith and practice. I have never known a
person who believes that the New Testament is not a pattern for faith and practice,
who did not begin believing and practicing things that are not taught in the New Testament.
If they do not see the error of their way and turn, the eventual road they will take is the
one leading to denominationalism.
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
implications reach into eternity. There was a time when the people of God knew the
Bible, and they maintained an undying loyalty to divine authority and to the blood
bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ. In former days preachers, elders, and Bible
class teachers made a determined effort to inform Christians about the errors of
denominationalism but it is different in many places today. What have we accomplished
if we teach against moral sins such as homosexuality, abortion, adultery, racial prejudice,
incest, stealing, and drunkenness), yet fail to teach against doctrinal errors such as once
saved always saved, the direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the sinner's heart in
conviction and conversion, salvation by faith only, present day miraculous divine healing,
sprinkling and pouring instead of immersion, and the use of mechanical instruments of
music in New Testament worship? What we will have done is this: sown the seed of
apostasy, tilled the soil of ecumenism, and created an atmosphere of tolerance for every
form of doctrinal corruption among God's people. The purity of the local congregation
involves both moral and doctrinal conformity to the word of the living God. The
congregation at Pergamum had people who were practicing sexual immorality
and some among them held to the teaching of Balaam and the teaching
of the Nicolaitans, and as the result of their lack of conformity in doctrine and practice
the Lord said, "I have a few things against you ... repent then." (Rev. 2:12-16)
In the early 1990's I read a lot about a heinous movement that had roots
in Florida. In those days older preachers with knowledge and experience were saying if
this new movement is not challenged, we will see numerous congregations with their
elders and deacons become so soft that they will take the journey to denominationalism.
The movement was known as The Crossroads Movement. The assessment of the
wise older preachers was exactly right. They hit the nail on the head. The movement
eventually expanded and developed its own system of teaching and organization and
later evolved into The Boston Movement. The movement had cultic tendencies and
several congregations and elderships could be identified as congregations of Christ
only in "name." Their attitudes changed from a formerly militant stance of walk softly
and carry a big stick to a "tip-toe and carry a toothpick" posture. (Jude 3) Their practice
changed from only doing what was authorized by the New Testament, to doing what they
wish could be found in the word of God. The only thing that brought more sorrow to the
hearts of men who were committed to "sticking with the book," was the fact that those who
departed from the truth of God had a rather large group of sympathizers. What are some
of the telltale signs that a person or congregation is taking the journey to
denominationalism?
1) When a person or congregation looks for something in addition to the
word of God to lead them to the salvation in Christ. Many people in the
Crossroads Movement talked about the Holy Spirit guiding them, touching their eyes
and preparing their hearts to obey God. They were expecting the Holy Spirit to do
something to them that the word of God could not do for them. They were implicitly
denying the all-sufficiency of the word of God as the message of salvation. They seemed
oblivious to the fact that the word is the instrument through which the Spirit works to
convict and convert the alien sinner, and to build up the believer. (Acts 20:32;
2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jas. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3) "For the word of God is living and active."
(Heb. 4:12) It is not only "living," but living and active, meaning it gets inside a person's
heart and brings forth results. The word of God does this because God designed it this
way. We are "brought forth by the word of truth." (Jas. 1:18) The implanted word "is able
to save our souls." (Jas. 1:21) The "word of the cross" is the power of God to salvation.
(Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18, 21) I have never met a person who believes the Holy
Spirit is influencing them apart from the teaching of sacred scripture, who did not begin
teaching things that the Holy Spirit did not reveal to the apostles of Christ. (Jno. 16:13;
1 Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:5) When this happens, if they do not see the error of their way and turn,
the inevitable consequence will be to take the journey to denominationalism.
2) When a person or congregation speaks disparagingly of the concept that
the New Testament constitutes a pattern for faith and conduct. This is usually
done when the "progressives" want to initiate a program or work, that as things stand,
they cannot find any authorization for in the New Testament, so their choices are either
to abandon the unauthorized concept, or as is usually done, to say, "Well, we don't need
authority for everything we do anyway because the New Testament does not constitute
a pattern. It is a series of 'love letters' that are primarily applicable to the apostolic age."
The apostles believed their writings were authoritative, absolute, and that they were to
guide the Lord's people. Therefore, they believed in "pattern authority." Paul said there
is one gospel, and that no one, angel or otherwise has any right to change it! (Gal. 1:6-9)
Paul was certain that he was writing the "commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37)
He told Timothy to "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from
me." (2 Tim. 1:13, ESV) James said we have "the perfect law of liberty." (Jas. 1:25)
Jude said "the faith has been once for all delivered to the holy people." (Jude 3) The
point is, if the New Testament is not to be changed, consists of the commandments of the
Lord, is a pattern of sound words, is a perfect law of liberty, and is the faith that has been
once for all delivered to the holy people of God, (and all of these things are true), therefore
the New Testament is the pattern or standard for faith and practice. I have never known a
person who believes that the New Testament is not a pattern for faith and practice,
who did not begin believing and practicing things that are not taught in the New Testament.
If they do not see the error of their way and turn, the eventual road they will take is the
one leading to denominationalism.
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
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