IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?
About 100 years ago, the Restoration Movement which had been growing and
spreading like wildfire slowed down and them came to a screeching halt. The
introduction of instrumental music in some of the churches and the creation of
the missionary society had been causing trouble for several decades. The
creeping virus of liberalism continued to invade the body of Christ, robbing it
of its’ vital spark.
There is today a strong possibility of another, and perhaps even a greater, rift
in the Lord’s church. The cause is very similar to what happened more
than a century ago. There are some left wing liberals who are seeking to
change the church into just another denomination. In fact, many would
affirm that this split has already occurred. We just haven’t had the courage
to admit it yet. Is history repeating itself?
Recently in researching the year 1973, in preparation for the 30th Anniversary
of our Restoration Radio work, I came across many warnings uttered by a host of
older and perhaps wiser preachers of the dangers of apostasy. Such men as
Guy N. Woods, B. C. Goodpasture, Alan E. Highers, Paul M. Tucker and others saw
the signs of digression and recognizing the danger, tried their very best to
warn the brotherhood.
But, for the most part, these warnings seem to have fallen upon deaf ears.
It had already begun. Don Finto, a former professor at David Lipscomb
University, and the Belmont congregation had already slipped away into
liberalism. As we slept, the great ship of Zion kept drifting right along with
the current and now suddenly we wake up to find ourselves among the rocks and
reefs of digression.
Then Rubel Shelly, who had been considered a “champion of the faith,”
revealed his true colors. Believe it or not, he had published in 1973 a
book entitled: Liberalism’s Threat to the Faith, which received grand reviews
and was recommended for class study. (Gospel Advocate, March 22, 1973, p. 18,
181). Oh, how far we have drifted!
Who would have dreamed 30 years ago that any of the congregations in Nashville,
TN, would ever support a Billy Graham Crusade? But, it has happened. Who,
in his wildest imagination, would have thought of a congregation having a
foot-washing service? But it has occurred. Who would have ever
thought that any of our popular preaching brethren would ever come to question
the necessity of baptism for remission of sins and salvation? But, that
has happened. Who would have envisioned a congregation of the
Lord’s church dropping the name “Church of Christ” and making the worship
a matter of entertainment along with clapping, performances, choirs, and
instrumental music. That, too, is going on in our brotherhood. It
used to be that one could readily recognize a preacher of the church of Christ
by his distinctive preaching. But, in many cases, that’s not the way it
is anymore.
This is history repeating itself. When you read in the history books about
what happened in the Lord’s church in the last half of the 19th century, it
sounds so current. The same thing is happening among our brethren now. It
is almost word for word. Change only some names and dates.
How could such a thing happen? How could it happen in Nashville,
Tennessee, of all places? (The answer for Nashville is apathy.
From the Restoration Radiogram,
Dec. 2002
417 Welshwood Dr., Ste. 301,
Nashville TN 37211