What do you men by “liberal?”

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What do you men by “liberal?”

• No one wants to be labeled a “liberal.”

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• No one wants to be labeled a “liberal.”

• One who acts without authority from God is “liberal.” (Col 3:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17)

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• (Colossians 3:17 NKJV) “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

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• (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

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• There is a spirit that turns away from God’s word (1 Cor 4:6; 2 Jn 9)

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• (1 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV) “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”

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• (2 John 1:9 NKJV) “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

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• I want to open hearts

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• I want to open hearts• Will you be tested?

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The Sinfulness of Division

• I became committed to open study when I left denominationalism.

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• These passages must be in the heart of every Christian. (Jn 17:20-23; 1 Cor 1:10)

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• (John 17:20-21 NKJV) “”I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; {21} “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

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• (1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV) “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

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• These passages must be in the heart of every Christian. (Jn 17:20-23; 1 Cor 1:10)

• My brother soon joined me in leaving the Baptist church.

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Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference

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• Personal Preference• Friendliness and

Associations

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Associations• Moral Purity

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Associations• Moral Purity• Zeal

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Associations• Moral Purity• Zeal• Activities

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Associations• Moral Purity• Zeal• Activities• Personal Offence

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• Personal Preference• Friendliness and Associations• Moral Purity• Zeal• Activities• Personal Offence• Personal Opportunities

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What Are the Issues?

• I was strongly motivated to justify my brethren. I tried for nearly two years to prove them right.

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• I was strongly motivated to justify my brethren. I tried for nearly two years to prove them right.

• I knew that God would not lead me wrong. (Jude 3)

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• (Jude 1:3 NKJV) “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

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• Many had no idea why division existed!

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• Others rashly misrepresented others

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• Some tried to limit questions to a single emotional issue

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• Some tried to limit questions to a single emotional issue

• Labels without any meaning were commonly used --- “anti” – “liberal”

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• Consider the division in 1900 that resulted in the Christian church denomination.

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Why I Left Liberalism

Human Doctrines• Authority:

– “no pattern” – Traditions– important men.

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– “no pattern” – Traditions– Important men.

Bible Doctrine• Authority:• The Bible alone is

sufficient. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Thess 5:21)

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• Local churches– No difference in

the church and individual.

Bible Doctrine• Authority:• The Bible alone

(2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Thess 5:21)

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• Local churches– No difference in

the church and individual.

Bible Doctrine• Authority:• The Bible alone

(2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Thess 5:21)

• Local ChurchesThere is a difference! (Mt 18:15-17; 1 Tim 5:16)

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• (Matthew 18:15-17 NKJV) “”Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

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• {17} “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

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Human Doctrines• Organization:

– Orphan Homes, Colleges, Sponsoring Church…. Local churches

Bible Doctrine

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Bible Doctrine• Organization:

– Elders, Deacons, and Members (1 Pet 5:1,2; Acts 20:28; 14:23; 2 Cor 8:12-13)

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• (Acts 14:23 NKJV) “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

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• (Acts 20:28 NKJV) “”Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

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• (Philippians 1:1 NKJV) “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”


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• (1 Peter 5:1-2 NKJV) “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: {2} Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;”

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• (2 Corinthians 8:12-14 NKJV) “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. {13} For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

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• {14} but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack; that there may be equality.”

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• Worship:– Choirs,

entertainment special days.



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• Worship:– Choirs,

entertainment special days.



• Worship:– God’s Plan:

(Gal 4:10-11; 1 Cor 16:1-2; Jn 4:23-24)

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• (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NKJV) “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

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• (Galatians 4:10-11 NKJV) “You observe days and months and seasons and years. {11} I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.”

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• (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV) “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

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Human Doctrines• Work

– Spiritual– Social– “Fellowship”

Halls– Allowed if it

“does good”

Bible Doctrine

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Human Doctrines• Work

– Spiritual– Social– “Fellowship”

Halls– Allowed if it

“does good”

Bible Doctrine• Work

– How did God equip the church? (Eph 4:11-12; Jn 6:44, 26-27)

– How are we building?

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• (Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

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• (John 6:44-45 (NKJV) - No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

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• (John 6:26-27 NKJV) “Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. {27} “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.””

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My Struggle to Stand

• I tried hard to defend my brethren

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• I tried hard to defend my brethren• Almost no one would reasonably

study with me.

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• I wavered for one year before standing.

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• I was often frustrated and confused.

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• I was often frustrated and confused.

• But I never lost faith in God's word! (Rom. 3:4)

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• (Romans 3:4 NKJV) “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.””

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• There were two things that opened my eyes.

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• A brief visit I made to a church in Huntsville

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• A brief visit I made to a church in Huntsville

• I tried to study with Kenneth Reed, the man one who had baptized me! He angrily refused.

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• Please do not try to stand in the middle!

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• Ex. J. W. McGarvey

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• Ex. J. W. McGarvey• Apostasy will not stop here! I am

amazed at the changes in just the last 20 years. Where will your children end up? (Jos. 24:15)

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• (Joshua 24:15 NKJV) “”And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.””

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• Some justify remaining in error saying: "But these brethren have a do-nothing attitude, etc. ..."

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• You can both stand for truth and do something!

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• You can both stand for truth and do something!

• Please stand in the right way yourself, then work with others.

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A DISTURBING CONVERSATION

Todd Clippard

• ….As many of you are aware, the University Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has invited Baptist preacher Tony Campolo to speak at this year's Youth in Action (YIA) in Birmingham, Alabama. The date is the weekend of December 27.

• …. When I asked him if he was aware that Tony Campolo was not a Christian, I received the following reply: “You mean he's not a member of the church of Christ.” To which I replied, “What's the difference?” His response, “I believe God is a lot bigger than the Church of Christ.

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Todd Clippard

• …. After a lengthy discussion regarding the essentiality of baptism, I asked him if he would defend this statement, *All accountable individuals must be baptized in order to be saved.* He refused, and tried to use the thief on the cross as an example to prove his point! He then told me that a young girl (about 14 he said) came to him earlier this week and desired to become a Christian, but since her parents could not come that night, would it be OK to wait until Sunday. He then asked me, “Are you telling me that if that girl dies before Sunday, that she will be lost?”

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Todd Clippard

• …. Anyway, I have heard someone explain from the Greek that Mark 16:16 can be translated “because you're already saved.”” I pulled every modern translation I could get my hands on and told him I could not find a single one that so translated the text. He was not satisfied. (I suspect, in his confusion, he was referring to Acts 2:38 and the Baptist explanation of the phrase “for remission of sins”). He then said, “I just have a lot more faith in Jesus than in baptism.” I replied, “How can you separate Jesus from what He taught. Jesus commanded baptism.” At that point he said he was very busy and thanked me for calling.

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What do you men by “liberal?”